36th Parliament, 2nd Session
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 3
CONTENTS
Thursday, October 14, 1999
1000
| INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS
|
| The Speaker |
| ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
|
| GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS
|
| Mr. Derek Lee |
| INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS
|
| Mr. George Proud |
| CANADA ELECTIONS ACT
|
| Bill C-2. Introduction and first reading
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
1005
| YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT
|
| Bill C-3 Introduction and first reading
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| COMPETITION ACT
|
| Bill C-201. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Dan McTeague |
| CRIMINAL CODE
|
| Bill C-202. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Dan McTeague |
1010
| AUDITOR GENERAL ACT
|
| Bill C-203. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mrs. Christiane Gagnon |
| EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT
|
| Bill C-204. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Paul Szabo |
| INCOME TAX ACT
|
| Bill C-205. Introduction and first reading
|
1015
| ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT
|
| Bill C-206. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. John Bryden |
| CRIMINAL CODE
|
| Bill C-207. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Maurice Vellacott |
| CROWN LIABILITY AND PROCEEDINGS ACT
|
| Bill C-208. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Art Hanger |
1020
| CRIMINAL CODE
|
| Bill 209. Introduction and first reading.
|
| Mr. Art Hanger |
| BANK OF CANADA ACT
|
| Bill C-210. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Richard Marceau |
| INCOME TAX ACT
|
| Bill C-211. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Paul Crête |
| CANADA LABOUR CODE
|
| Bill C-212. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mrs. Monique Guay |
1025
| SHIPBUILDING ACT, 1999
|
| Bill C-213. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Antoine Dubé |
| TREATIES ACT
|
| Bill C-214. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Daniel Turp |
| TABLING OF TREATIES ACT
|
| Bill C-215. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Daniel Turp |
| TREATY APPROVAL ACT
|
| Bill C-216. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Daniel Turp |
| TREATY PUBLICATION ACT
|
| Bill C-217. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Daniel Turp |
1030
| CONCLUSION OF TREATIES ACT
|
| Bill C-218. Introduction and first reading
|
| Mr. Daniel Turp |
| BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
|
| Motion No. 1
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Division deemed demanded and deferred
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion No. 2
|
1035
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion No. 3
|
| PETITIONS
|
| Gasoline Additives
|
| Mrs. Rose-Marie Ur |
| The Constitution
|
| Mr. Randy White |
| Agriculture
|
| Mr. Rick Borotsik |
| QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER
|
| Mr. Derek Lee |
| REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY DEBATE
|
| Immigration
|
| Mr. Leon E. Benoit |
1040
| The Deputy Speaker |
| GOVERNMENT ORDERS
|
| SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
|
| Resumption of debate on Address in Reply
|
| Mrs. Karen Redman |
1045
1050
| Mr. Myron Thompson |
1055
| Ms. Sarmite Bulte |
1100
1105
| Mr. Jason Kenney |
| Mr. Richard M. Harris |
1110
| Mr. Monte Solberg |
1115
1120
| Mr. Richard M. Harris |
| Mr. Grant McNally |
1125
| Mr. Jason Kenney |
1130
1135
| Mr. John Herron |
1140
| Mrs. Karen Kraft Sloan |
| Mr. Hec Clouthier |
1145
1150
| Mr. Deepak Obhrai |
1155
| Mr. Maurice Godin |
| Mr. Steve Mahoney |
1200
1205
1210
| Mr. Grant McNally |
| Mr. Rick Laliberte |
| Mr. Myron Thompson |
1215
| Mr. Daniel Turp |
1220
1225
| Mr. Yvan Loubier |
1230
1235
| Hon. Jane Stewart |
1240
1245
1250
| Mr. Myron Thompson |
1255
| Mr. Paul Crête |
1300
| Mr. André Harvey |
| Mr. Bill Blaikie |
1305
1310
| Mr. Dennis J. Mills |
1315
| Ms. Libby Davies |
1320
1325
| Mr. Janko Peric |
1330
1335
| Mr. Julian Reed |
1340
| Mr. Grant McNally |
1345
| Mr. Rick Casson |
| Mr. John Nunziata |
1350
| Mr. Ted McWhinney |
1355
| STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS
|
| CHANCELLOR ROBERT S. K. WELCH
|
| Mr. Walt Lastewka |
1400
| AGRICULTURE
|
| Mr. Rick Casson |
| HAZARDOUS WASTE
|
| Hon. Charles Caccia |
| THE LATE ROSS HALL
|
| Mr. Tony Valeri |
| THE LATE WILLIAM KAYE LAMB
|
| Mr. Paul Forseth |
1405
| AUTO PACT
|
| Mr. Bill Blaikie |
| ARTS AND CULTURE
|
| Ms. Aileen Carroll |
| JEAN-LOUIS MILLETTE
|
| Mr. Pierre de Savoye |
| OKTOBERFEST
|
| Mrs. Karen Redman |
| CHILDREN
|
| Mr. Paul Bonwick |
1410
| ROBERT MUNDELL
|
| Mr. Monte Solberg |
| COMMUNITY CARE WORKER WEEK
|
| Mr. Yvon Charbonneau |
| WORLD DAY FOR THE REFUSAL OF MISERY
|
| Mrs. Christiane Gagnon |
| LIBERAL GOVERNMENT
|
| Ms. Marlene Jennings |
| FISHERIES
|
| Mr. Charlie Power |
1415
| WILLIAM HEAD INSTITUTION
|
| Mr. Gary Lunn |
| PRESENCE IN GALLERY
|
| The Speaker |
| ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
|
| FISHERIES
|
| Mr. Preston Manning |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Mr. Preston Manning |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
1420
| Mr. Preston Manning |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Mr. John Cummins |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Mr. John Cummins |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
1425
| GM PLANT IN BOISBRIAND
|
| Mr. Gilles Duceppe |
| Hon. John Manley |
| Mr. Gilles Duceppe |
| Hon. John Manley |
| Mr. Michel Gauthier |
| Hon. John Manley |
| Mr. Michel Gauthier |
| Hon. John Manley |
1430
| AGRICULTURE
|
| Ms. Alexa McDonough |
| Hon. Lyle Vanclief |
| Ms. Alexa McDonough |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| FISHERIES
|
| Mrs. Elsie Wayne |
| Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal |
| Mrs. Elsie Wayne |
1435
| Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal |
| AGRICULTURE
|
| Mr. Howard Hilstrom |
| Hon. Lyle Vanclief |
| Mr. Howard Hilstrom |
| GM PLANT IN BOISBRIAND
|
| Mr. Pierre Brien |
| Hon. John Manley |
| Mr. Pierre Brien |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
1440
| AGRICULTURE
|
| Mr. Preston Manning |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Mr. Preston Manning |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| AIR TRANSPORTATION
|
| Hon. David M. Collenette |
1445
| Hon. David M. Collenette |
| GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
|
| Miss Deborah Grey |
| Hon. Maria Minna |
| Miss Deborah Grey |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| PARENTAL LEAVE
|
| Mr. Paul Crête |
| Hon. Jane Stewart |
1450
| AGRICULTURE
|
| Mr. Murray Calder |
| Hon. Lyle Vanclief |
| GOVERNMENT GRANTS
|
| Mrs. Diane Ablonczy |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Mrs. Diane Ablonczy |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| CHILD CARE
|
| Mrs. Michelle Dockrill |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
1455
| Ms. Libby Davies |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| FISHERIES
|
| Mr. Greg Thompson |
| Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal |
| Mr. Greg Thompson |
| Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal |
| CHILD CARE
|
| Mr. John O'Reilly |
| Hon. Jane Stewart |
| EMPLOYMENT
|
| Mr. Deepak Obhrai |
| Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew |
1500
| NATIVE PEOPLES
|
| Mr. Claude Bachand |
| Hon. Robert D. Nault |
| Mr. Peter Stoffer |
| Hon. Robert D. Nault |
| FISHERIES
|
| Ms. Angela Vautour |
| Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal |
| PRESENCE IN GALLERY
|
| The Speaker |
1505
| BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
|
| Mr. Randy White |
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Mr. Bill Blaikie |
| Mr. John Nunziata |
1510
| PRIVILEGE
|
| Canadian Security Intelligence Service
|
| Ms. Val Meredith |
1515
1520
1525
| Mr. Chuck Strahl |
1530
| Mr. Jim Abbott |
| Hon. Don Boudria |
1535
| The Speaker |
| GOVERNMENT ORDERS
|
| SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
|
| Resumption of debate on Address in Reply
|
1540
| Mr. Ted McWhinney |
| Mrs. Elsie Wayne |
1545
1550
| Ms. Jocelyne Girard-Bujold |
| Mr. René Canuel |
1555
| Mr. Rick Borotsik |
1600
1605
| Ms. Jocelyne Girard-Bujold |
| Mr. Rick Laliberte |
1610
| Mr. George Proud |
1615
| Mr. Odina Desrochers |
1620
| Mr. Rick Borotsik |
| Mrs. Brenda Chamberlain |
1625
1630
| Mr. John Herron |
1635
| Mr. René Canuel |
| Mr. Rick Borotsik |
| Mr. John Cummins |
1640
1645
| Mr. John Bryden |
1650
1655
| Mr. Leon E. Benoit |
1700
1705
| Mr. John Bryden |
1710
| Hon. David Anderson |
1715
1720
1725
1730
| Mr. Reed Elley |
| Ms. Jocelyne Girard-Bujold |
1735
| Mr. Bill Blaikie |
1740
| Ms. Hélène Alarie |
1745
1750
| Mr. André Harvey |
| Mr. Odina Desrochers |
1755
1800
| Mr. Paul Crête |
1805
| Mr. John Herron |
| Ms. Susan Whelan |
1810
1815
1845
(Division 1)
| Amendment to the amendment negatived
|
| ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
|
| BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
|
(Division 2)
| Motion No. 1 agreed to
|
(Official Version)
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 3
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Thursday, October 14, 1999
The House met at 10 a.m.
Prayers
1000
[English]
INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS
The Speaker: Pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have
the honour to present to the House, in both official languages,
the report of the parliamentary delegation that visited the
Russian Federation from May 16 to May 22 inclusive, 1999.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
[English]
GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS
Mr. Derek Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the
Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in
both official languages, the government's response to 14
petitions.
* * *
INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS
Mr. George Proud (Hillsborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to
the House, in both official languages, the first report of the
Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association which represented Canada
at the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in
Warsaw, Poland, May 27-31, 1999.
* * *
CANADA ELECTIONS ACT
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-2, an act
respecting the election of members to the House of Commons,
repealing other acts relating to elections and making
consequential amendments to other acts.
1005
He said: Mr. Speaker, I wish to confirm to the House that it is
my intention to propose, pursuant to Standing Order 73(1), that
the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and
House Affairs before it is read the second time.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
[Translation]
YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT
Hon. Don Boudria (for the Minister of Justice) moved
for leave to introduce Bill C-3, an act in respect of criminal
justice for young persons and to amend and repeal other acts.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
[English]
COMPETITION ACT
Mr. Dan McTeague (Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, Lib.) moved
for leave to introduce Bill C-201, an act to amend the
Competition Act (protection of those who purchase products from
vertically integrated suppliers who compete with them at retail).
He said: Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure, along with my
colleagues, to reintroduce the bill formerly known as Bill C-235,
an act to amend the Competition Act to provide protection for
individuals who purchase products from vertically integrated
suppliers who compete with them at retail.
Contrary to the belief of some, I would like to reiterate that
rumours of the bill's death have been greatly exaggerated by the
industry committee and others.
The bill, along with the amendments to be put forward by my
colleague, the hon. member for Cambridge, seeks to accomplish
just one thing: to prohibit vertically integrated suppliers from
charging their wholesale customers more for a product than what
they or their affiliates are charging for the same product at the
retail level.
In terms of unjustifiable and high sustained prices, the bill
tries to prevent market domination in the grocery and gas
industries as well as others.
I look forward to the continuing debate on this renewed bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
The Deputy Speaker: Is the hon. member suggesting the
bill was in the same form as in the previous Parliament?
Mr. Dan McTeague: Mr. Speaker, the bill itself is a
votable bill under the procedures that have been changed as a
result of last year. The bill is in virtually the same form. It
is in the same form as it was in the previous Parliament.
The Deputy Speaker: The Chair is satisfied that the bill
is in the same form as Bill C-235 was at the time of the
prorogation of the first session of the 36th Parliament.
[Translation]
Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1), the bill is deemed
read the second time, referred to a committee, considered in
committee, and reported with amendments.
(Bill deemed read the second time, referred to a committee,
reported with amendments)
* * *
[English]
CRIMINAL CODE
Mr. Dan McTeague (Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, Lib.) moved
for leave to introduce Bill C-202, an act to amend the Criminal
Code (flight).
He said: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to reintroduce the bill. I
am sorry about monopolizing the time in the context of my former
bill C-235. I thank the House leader for the Reform Party.
The bill was presented in the last session. It deals with a
specific provision in the Criminal Code dealing with those who
evade police in pursuit. The bill provides severe penalties for
anyone using a motor vehicle to escape from the police and in the
process kills, injures or maims another person.
Over the summer Canadians once again saw the tragic outcome
caused by those who use motor vehicles to evade the police. In
Toronto another family no longer has a loved one. In Sudbury
another police officer was added to the list of those killed in
the line of duty.
1010
The bill has the support of the Minister of Justice, the
Government of Ontario and the Canadian Police Association. I am
confident that given its previous reception by the justice
committee the bill will also obtain the support of the House in
the very near future.
The bill is in the same form as the previous bill in the last
parliament.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
The Deputy Speaker: The Chair is satisfied that the bill
is in the same form as Bill C-440 was at the time of prorogation
of the 1st session of the 36th parliament.
Accordingly, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1) the bill is deemed
read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on
Justice and Human Rights.
(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)
* * *
[Translation]
AUDITOR GENERAL ACT
Mrs. Christiane Gagnon (Québec, BQ) moved for leave to introduce
Bill C-203, an act to amend the Auditor General Act (Poverty
Commissioner).
She said: Mr. Speaker, in the absence of tools to evaluate the
effectiveness of the federal government's anti-poverty programs
and policies, I move that there be created a position of poverty
commissioner, whose mandate would be to analyse the causes and
effects of poverty in Canada, to evaluate the effectiveness of
measures taken by the federal government to reduce or eliminate
poverty, and to advise the federal government on measures that
it could take to reduce or eliminate poverty.
The bill is the same in form as Bill C-490, which I introduced in
the House of Commons during the preceding session.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
The Deputy Speaker: The Chair is of the opinion that this bill
is in the same form as Bill C-490 was when the first session of
the 36th Parliament was prorogued.
Therefore, pursuant to
Standing Order 86(1), the order for second reading of this bill
will be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence in the
Order Paper.
* * *
[English]
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT
Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.) moved for leave
to introduce Bill C-204, an act to amend the Employment Insurance
Act (parental benefits).
He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce Bill C-449
which was first introduced into the House on October 27, 1998.
The 1996 national longitudinal survey on children and youth
found that 25% of Canadian children enter adult life with
significant emotional, behavioural, academic or social problems.
Therefore investing in early childhood development, particularly
in the first year, is an imperative not an option.
The bill responds in part to the need to provide more
flexibility, options and choices to parents by amending the
Employment Insurance Act to provide up to one full year of
maternity and parental leave benefits under that act.
I am pleased to reintroduce the bill and I hope we will have
the support of the entire House.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
[Translation]
INCOME TAX ACT
Mr. Michel Guimond
(Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île-d'Orléans, BQ) moved for
leave to introduce Bill C-205, an act to amend the Income Tax
Act (deduction of expenses incurred by a mechanic for tools
required in employment).
He said: Mr. Speaker, the aim of this bill is to allow persons
employed as mechanics to deduct the cost of the tools required
for their work which they provide, if it is a condition of their
employment.
This bill is at the same stage and in the same form as was Bill
C-502 at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 36th
Parliament, and I am requesting that it be reinstated in the
order of precedence.
1015
I would remind hon. members that this bill was a votable item. I
would remind the government House leader that, in the rather
chaotic end of session last June 10, I had to cut 20 minutes off
my speech. He had then given me his consent to have another 20
minutes to speak.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
The Deputy Speaker: The chair is of the opinion that this bill
is at the same stage as was Bill C-502 at the time the first
session of the 36th Parliament was prorogued.
Consequently, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1), the order for
second reading of this bill will be placed at the bottom of the
order of precedence in the Order Paper and it will be designated
as a votable item.
* * *
[English]
ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT
Mr. John Bryden (Wentworth—Burlington, Lib.) moved for
leave to introduce Bill C-206, an act to amend the Access to
Information Act and to make amendments to other acts.
He said: Mr. Speaker, this bill is in the same form as it was
before prorogation. What it does is substantially reforms the
Access to Information Act.
Although it is only at first reading, I draw the attention of
members to the fact that it is in the same form because I believe
it is one of the first bills to obtain more than 100 seconders
under the changes to the standing orders.
I have 112 seconders to this bill, mainly from the Liberals, the
Reform and the Bloc Quebecois.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
CRIMINAL CODE
Mr. Maurice Vellacott (Wanuskewin, Ref.), seconded by the
hon. member for Huron—Bruce, moved for leave to introduce Bill
C-207, an act to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit coercion in
medical procedures that offend a person's religion or belief that
human life is inviolable.
He said: Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to introduce the former
Bill C-461, an act to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit
coercion in medical procedures that offend a person's religion or
belief that human life is inviolable. The seconder for the bill
is the hon. member for Huron—Bruce.
The purpose of the bill is to ensure that health providers
working in medical facilities of various kinds will never be
forced to participate against their wills in procedures such as
abortions or acts of euthanasia. The bill itself does not ban
abortion or euthanasia, but it makes it illegal to force another
person to participate in an abortion procedure or an act of
euthanasia.
Incredibly there are medical personnel in Canada who have been
fired because the law is not explicit enough in spelling out
their conscience rights. The bill will make those rights
explicit.
This bill is in the identical wording as before prorogation and
received some 100 signatures and significant support from all
parties. It is a labour issue and it is also a conscience rights
issue.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
CROWN LIABILITY AND PROCEEDINGS ACT
Mr. Art Hanger (Calgary Northeast, Ref.) moved for leave
to introduce Bill C-208, an act to to amend the Crown Liability
and Proceedings Act.
He said: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to reintroduce this
bill.
Its purpose is to ensure that a person serving time in prison
will not be able to sue the federal government or its employees
under any federal legislation in respect of a claim arising while
the person is under sentence.
If enacted, the bill would put an end to the practice of
prisoners engaging in frivolous lawsuits against the federal
government and their abuse of the legal system.
I urge all members in the House to give serious consideration to
the bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
1020
CRIMINAL CODE
Mr. Art Hanger (Calgary Northeast, Ref.) moved for leave
to introduce Bill 209, an act to amend the Criminal Code
(prohibited sexual acts).
He said: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to reintroduce my
private member's bill. This bill seeks to raise the legal age of
sexual consent from age 14 to age 16. It would thus make it a
criminal offence for an adult to engage in sex with children
under the age of 16.
The bill was first introduced in 1996 and reintroduced in 1997.
However, the growing concern over child pornography and child
prostitution in the country makes it even more urgent for the
enactment of this legislation to protect the young and vulnerable
in our society from predators among us.
For the sake of our children I appeal to members of the House to
give serious consideration to the bill and lend their support
accordingly.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
[Translation]
BANK OF CANADA ACT
Mr. Richard Marceau (Charlesbourg, BQ) moved for leave to
introduce Bill C-210, an act to amend the Bank of Canada Act
(withdrawal of the thousand dollar note).
He said: Mr. Speaker, on the day following the victory of the
Bloc Quebecois hockey team against the Parliament Hill media
people's team, I am very pleased to introduce a bill that seeks
to have the $1,000 note withdrawn. This bill is supported by
police forces in Canada.
Withdrawing the $1,000 note will allow us to lead a more
effective fight against money launderers, something most
Quebecers and Canadians support.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
INCOME TAX ACT
Mr. Paul Crête (Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques,
BQ) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-211, an act to amend the
Income Tax Act (travel expenses for a motor vehicle used by a
forestry worker).
He said: Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to introduce this bill
for the first time. This legislation seeks to amend the Income
Tax Act to allow a reasonable tax deduction for forestry workers
who work far from their place of residence, so that the Income
Tax Act is an incentive to work and not the reverse.
This bill is in response to a request made by several forestry
workers in my riding and in my region. These people deserve to
be encouraged.
When a person agrees to travel 300, 400, 500 or 600 kilometres
to make a living, it is normal that the government should grant
a corresponding deduction.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
CANADA LABOUR CODE
Mrs. Monique Guay (Laurentides, BQ) moved for leave to introduce
Bill C-212, an act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the
Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, and the Public
Service Staff Relations Act (prohibited provision in a
collective agreement).
She said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill that
will prohibit the application of orphan clauses in the
collective agreements mentioned in the following three statutes:
the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff
Relations Act, and the Public Service Staff Relations Act.
The bill's purpose is to prohibit clauses in collective
agreements that discriminate against new arrivals in the labour
market and to ensure that these workers enjoy the same pay and
benefits as previously hired workers.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
1025
SHIPBUILDING ACT, 1999
Mr. Antoine Dubé (Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, BQ) moved for
leave to introduce Bill C-213, an act to promote shipbuilding, 1999.
He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce a bill to
promote shipbuilding in Canada.
Basically, it consists of three measures: a loan guarantee
program specific to shipbuilding; a leasing write-off provision;
a shipbuilding tax credit similar to the one that already exists
in Quebec.
These three measures were proposed two years ago by the Canadian
shipbuilders' association and had the support of the interunion
coalition of 4,000 shipbuilding workers in Canada.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
TREATIES ACT
Mr. Daniel Turp (Beauharnois—Salaberry, BQ) moved for leave to
introduce Bill C-214, an act to provide for the participation of
the House of Commons when treaties are concluded.
He said: Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of introducing this
act, which is aimed at involving the House of Commons in the
negotiation and consultation relating to treaties. Its ultimate
aim is to democratize the process whereby Canada concludes such
treaties.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
TABLING OF TREATIES ACT
Mr. Daniel Turp (Beauharnois—Salaberry, BQ) moved for leave to
introduce Bill C-215, an act for the tabling of treaties in the
House of Commons.
He said: Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of introducing this
act, which is aimed at creating solid legal foundations for the
procedure whereby the government tables treaties before the
House of Commons, so as to inform the hon. members of this House
of the existence of the treaties concluded by Canada. Canada
had given up this practice but reinstated it several months ago.
It does, however, require solid legal bases.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
TREATY APPROVAL ACT
Mr. Daniel Turp (Beauharnois—Salaberry, BQ) moved for leave to
introduce Bill C-216, an act to provide for the approval of
treaties by the House of Commons.
He said: Mr. Speaker, the bill relating to the approval of
treaties is aimed at allowing this House to approve treaties
before they are ratified by the government, thus reinstating the
past practice of having House of Commons support and approval
for major treaties.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
TREATY PUBLICATION ACT
Mr. Daniel Turp (Beauharnois—Salaberry, BQ) moved for leave to
introduce Bill C-217, an act to provide for the publication of
treaties.
1030
He said: Mr. Speaker, this fourth bill, which also deals with
treaties, seeks to require the government to publish treaties
not only in the Canada Treaty Series, but also in the Canada
Gazette and on the Web site of the Department of Foreign
Affairs, so as to ensure wide circulation of treaties, which are
becoming increasingly important documents for Canada and the
international community.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
CONCLUSION OF TREATIES ACT
Mr. Daniel Turp (Beauharnois—Salaberry, BQ) moved for leave to
introduce Bill C-218, an act to provide for consultation with
provincial governments when treaties are negotiated and
concluded.
He said: Mr. Speaker, the fifth and last bill that I am tabling
today seeks to put into a single piece of legislation all the
issues that I would like to see included in a bill on the
conclusion, publication, ratification and circulation of
treaties.
I am pleased to introduce this bill and I hope that it
will be passed so the signing of treaties can be made a truly
democratic process by involving parliamentarians.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and
printed)
* * *
[English]
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.) moved:
That, during the first thirty sitting days of the present Session
of Parliament, whenever a Minister of the Crown, when proposing a
motion for first reading of a public bill, states that the said
bill is in the same form as a bill introduced by a Minister of
the Crown in the previous session, if the Speaker is satisfied
that the said bill is in the same form as at prorogation,
notwithstanding Standing Order 71, the said bill shall be deemed
in the current session to have been considered and approved at
all stages completed at the time of prorogation of the previous
session.
He said: Mr. Speaker, I believe you would find unanimous
consent that Motion No. 1 which you have just read under Routine
Proceedings be put without debate, a division thereon deemed to
have been requested and deferred until the ordinary time of
adjournment this afternoon.
I would then later ask for two other motions to be put as well.
The Deputy Speaker: Does the House give its unanimous
consent to proceed in the manner outlined by the government House
leader?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Deputy Speaker: Accordingly the question is deemed
to have been put, a division deemed demanded and deferred until
the conclusion of Government Orders later this day. The matter is
therefore disposed of at this time.
I will proceed to put Motion No. 2 to the House.
[Translation]
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.) moved:
That, during the first thirty sitting days of
the present Session of Parliament, whenever a private Member
submits a notice of motion that he or she submitted in the
previous Session and that stood in the order of precedence
pursuant to Standing Order 87 at the time of prorogation, if the
Speaker is satisfied that the said motion is in the same form as
at prorogation, it shall stand on the Order Paper pursuant to
Standing Order 87 after those of the same class, with the same
designation accorded to it pursuant to Standing Order 92(1) in
the previous Session.
The Deputy Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the
motion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to)
1035
[English]
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.) moved:
That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 81(10)(b),
there shall be seven days allotted to the business of supply
pursuant to Standing Order 81 in the period ending December 10,
1999.
The Deputy Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to
adopt the motion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Sarkis Assadourian: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of
order. I was a few minutes late and I would ask for the
unanimous consent of the House to present a private members'
bill.
The Deputy Speaker: Is there unanimous consent to revert?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
Some hon. members: No.
* * *
PETITIONS
GASOLINE ADDITIVES
Mrs. Rose-Marie Ur (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a
petition which has been certified correct as to form and content.
The petitioners are from the Grand Bend and London areas.
The petition states that the use of the additive MMT in Canadian
gasoline presents an environmental problem affecting every man,
woman and child in Canada. The petitioners call upon parliament
to set by the end of this calendar year national clean fuel
standards for gasoline with zero MMT and low sulphur content.
THE CONSTITUTION
Mr. Randy White (Langley—Abbotsford, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
I wish to table a petition incited by the hon. member of the New
Democratic Party as being a problem in this country.
The petitioners ask the House that parliament oppose any
amendments to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or any
other federal legislation which will provide for the exclusion of
reference to the supremacy of God in our Constitution and laws.
The petitioners also mention that the majority of Canadians
believe in the God who created heaven and earth and are not
offended by the mention of his name in the preamble of the
charter of rights and freedoms.
This is tabled for the attention of the House and for the
attention of the hon. member of the NDP who created this mess in
the first place.
AGRICULTURE
Mr. Rick Borotsik (Brandon—Souris, PC): Mr. Speaker, I
have two petitions to table that are of the same nature with
respect to agriculture. There are 122 pages of signatures.
The petitions state that the federal minister of agriculture has
introduced the agricultural income disaster assistance program
fully knowing the shortfall as it relates to agriculture in
western Canada and that he has failed to set forth a support
program that fully reflects the true needs of agriculture.
We will debate agriculture a little later this morning in the
reply to the throne speech. The petitioners are asking that the
minister of agriculture be replaced by a member of the House who
would be better able to recognize and understand the issues of
agriculture.
* * *
QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER
Mr. Derek Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the
Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I ask
that all questions be allowed to stand.
The Deputy Speaker: Is that agreed?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
* * *
REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY DEBATE
IMMIGRATION
Mr. Leon E. Benoit (Lakeland, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
pursuant to Standing Order 52 I request leave to make a motion
for adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a
specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration.
Over the summer months it became evident that a crisis exists in
our immigration and refugee determination system. Canada has
become a primary target for illegal migration. This is causing a
problem with queue jumping. People who are using the normal
process are extremely concerned that their process is being held
up as a result of poor handling of the refugee determination
process by the government.
1040
There are three recent events I would like to quickly refer to
which demonstrate the need for an emergency debate.
First is the detaining of illegal migrants for months already
and it will probably stretch into years in new camps or prisons
that have been set up specifically for this reason. I do not
think it is acceptable in a country like Canada to have a system
that is working so poorly that people are being detained for
months and years while they await the outcome of the
determination process.
Second, Mayor Lastman, the mayor of Toronto, Canada's largest
city, has publicly expressed concern about our immigration
system, in particular our refugee determination system which is
working so poorly that it is putting an extra cost burden on his
city. He wants the government rather than the city to bear that
burden if the government is not going to fix the system.
Third, yesterday, according to media reports the premier of
Ontario has written a letter to the government and to the
immigration minister saying he is fed up with the system working
so poorly. He wants the government to fix the system because his
province cannot bear the costs.
It is important that we debate this issue immediately to send a
signal to people smugglers and those who would use their services
that Canada will no longer be an easy mark. We must put in place
legislation that will make this process happen within days and
weeks rather than months and years as is currently the situation
and which will quickly end the virtual slave trade that is
building in our country. People smugglers are bringing people in
illegally and putting them into slave-like conditions. That is
something Canadians cannot accept.
For those reasons, it is important that we have an emergency
debate today to change the law to fix these problems.
The Deputy Speaker: The Chair appreciates the
intervention of the hon. member for Lakeland. It is the view of
the Chair that his application for an emergency debate does not
meet the exigencies of the standing order at this time.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS
[English]
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON ADDRESS IN REPLY
The House resumed from October 13 consideration of the motion
for an address to Her Excellency the Governor General in reply to
her speech at the opening of the session, of the amendment and of
the amendment to the amendment.
Mr. Chuck Strahl: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of
order. During the remainder of the debate on the Speech from the
Throne the Reform Party members will be dividing their speaking
time.
Mrs. Karen Redman (Kitchener Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
I will be sharing my time with the member for Parkdale—High
Park.
[Translation]
As in the last six years, Canada continues to be the UN's choice
as the number one country in which to live.
[English]
This week's throne speech set out a strategy that will ensure we
maintain our number one ranking. It signalled the government's
plan to build on the quality of life for all Canadians.
In the years to come we will address the challenges of
globalization and the demands placed on a knowledge based
society. We have committed to bring down the personal income tax
levels of Canadians and to invest in families and in children.
The government has set out a plan that addresses our diversity
and responds to our responsibilities as a global leader.
Today I will take some time to explore this throne speech and
how it relates to my riding and the constituents of Kitchener
Centre.
First I would like to review the government's record. Let me
begin with unemployment rates. They are at their lowest level
since 1990. I am pleased to report to this House that the
Waterloo region has the lowest unemployment rate among municipal
centres across the nation, a rate of 4.9%.
This Liberal government in partnership with the private sector
has created the proper climate for job creation. As a result, we
have seen the creation of 1.7 million jobs since we took office.
We have consistently increased our investments in research and
technology and we have supported small and medium size
enterprises.
In my community Industry Canada has worked in partnership on the
creation of the business enterprise centre which houses the
Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre. This centre provides one
stop shopping for entrepreneurs. Users of the centre have access
to extensive and current information and tools which enable them
to both succeed and grow.
1045
The region of Waterloo is a microcosm of the changes that are
happening across the nation. A generation ago no one could have
envisaged a vibrant local economy that lacked the kind of family
businesses such as Seagram's and Labatt's, nor could they have
imagined the changes that we have seen at Schneider's meats, yet
these changes have occurred.
Today in Kitchener we see an ever increasing number of small
businesses starting up. Across the country over 80% of the new
jobs created are by this sector and many are in the high tech
area.
Waterloo region has seen incredible growth in the high tech
sector. Our community has not only thrived but remained on the
cutting edge of a competitive global economy.
This week's throne speech clearly indicates a strong commitment
to building our economy through developing a skilled labour force
and providing the necessary research dollars and tools for small
emerging companies.
The Liberal government will ensure that skilled development
keeps pace with the evolving industries and markets. This will
be accomplished through the sectoral councils in close
consultation with industry leaders. The government has once
again acknowledged the importance of foreign investors in Canada.
For Canada's technology triangle this is good news. The CTT has
been funded by the federal government to attract foreign
investors to areas such as Kitchener. They are working and
spreading the news about Canada. It is this type of organization
with which we must encourage and foster relationships.
We must also support companies that will help us meet our
environmental obligations under agreements such as the Kyoto
protocol.
Recently I accompanied the Minister of Industry on a tour of GFI
Control Systems where they demonstrated to us how their
automobile conversion kits will help Canada meet its clean air
responsibilities.
Our environment is also affected by our infrastructure. As a
former regional and municipal representative I have witnessed the
benefits of working in partnership on programs such as our
national physical infrastructure.
In the throne speech we have indicated our will to continue to
work with all levels of government and the private sector to
achieve a five year plan for improving the infrastructure in both
urban and rural areas across Canada. This will be a commitment
that will be reached by the end of the year 2000.
Children and youth are the country's key to success in the 21st
century. It is the responsibility of government and community,
family, friends and teachers to open doors and encourage young
people to seize their dreams.
I first entered politics to assure that the decisions of
government were working in the best interests of my four
children. During my 10 years as a member of parliament I have
taken special interest in the youth of Kitchener. Through visits
to classrooms and graduations, I have had the pleasure to meet
the young people who will be the leaders of tomorrow.
I have been pleased to support organizations such as the KOR
Gallery and art studio. This studio was created by another
mother who wanted to see the greatest opportunities possible for
her very talented son and other young artists in the Waterloo
region. KOR Gallery has been supported by the federal government
and has received half a million dollars throughout its years.
In the spring of this year the Prime Minister's task force on
youth entrepreneurship spent a day in my community meeting with
young entrepreneurs and visiting their businesses. The task
force heard that our youth need support to gain access to funding
and resources. We are responding to those requests.
Our goal is to give today's young generation of Canadians, no
matter where they live, the tools and the opportunities for
personal success in the knowledge economy. We will provide them
with career information and access to work experience and
learning. We will hire them to work on Internet projects. We
will offer them the opportunity to apply their talents overseas
through youth international internship programs.
The government is committed to enhancing the skills and
opportunities of young Canadians. We will do this through
partnerships with local organizations and the provincial and
territorial governments.
For example, this past summer Kitchener was the proud host of
the skills Canada competition. The event, in connection with two
other competitions, received $800,000 from the youth employment
strategy fund.
Skills Canada is an important project because it gives our youth
the opportunity to compete with young people from around the
world.
The competition tested participants in over 40 trade,
technological and other skill areas. I can think of no better
way to encourage tomorrow's leaders. Our children and our
families deserve a high standard of living. This will require,
as never before, an adaptable, resilient population that is ready
to learn throughout life.
1050
It is clear that the foundation for such capacities is laid in
the very early years of life. I firmly believe that the strength
of our society will depend on the investments we make today as a
nation in families and in children.
The government has committed to making a third significant
investment in the national child benefit by the year 2002. We
will put more dollars in the hands of families with children
through further tax relief. We will lengthen and make more
flexible employment insurance benefits for parental leave.
Now that the deficit is gone and the debt is in a permanent
downward direction, we as a government have the opportunity to
invest in the quality of life of Canadians. Canadians have said
that health care, children, education and tax cuts are their
priorities. We have been responding to these areas in the past
years and we will continue to be committed to these issues.
This nation has a high quality of life. It is a nation of which
we should be proud. It is a nation that others envy. Our Prime
Minister has provided us with a strong direction and an
unwavering commitment for unity.
[Translation]
The new millennium will be wonderful for all Canadians.
[English]
The new millennium will be a bright one for all Canadians.
Mr. Myron Thompson (Wild Rose, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, with
all the fluff that flies around here it is a wonder we do not
break out with allergies. I wonder if the member has ever
visited the reserves across our country, as I have for the last
two years, to see the quality of life. The government
continually talks about how wonderful we are in this land.
I wonder if the member of parliament has ever walked the streets
of Toronto, Vancouver or other major cities and visited with the
people who are on the streets, who are homeless, who are
experiencing this wonderful quality of life we keep hearing about
from this minister.
I wonder if the member and the government recognize the extreme
value of Mike Harris, Ralph Klein and other premiers, and how
much they have contributed and sacrificed in order to make things
happen in their provinces, with no thanks to this government. In
spite of the government, they have managed to achieve many
things.
I wonder if the member is aware that only this morning it was
declared that there has been a 66% increase in poverty in one
year. One out of every six children is going to school hungry.
One year ago it was not that bad.
I wonder if the member is proud of a government that spends
money to hang dead rabbits in a museum or to form a committee to
study whether we should have a national insect.
The government is doing all this funny fuzzy spending while we
get these kinds of reports. What kind of a record is that? What
are the member and the government going to do about these things
that are real and actual, that are happening on our reserves and
on the streets of our country?
We talk about the quality of life while we hang dead rabbits
in museums and search for a national insect. When is the
government going to wake up, and what is the member going to do
about it?
Mrs. Karen Redman: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the
member opposite for the temporary promotion to minister.
I had the pleasure this past summer of going to the Arctic
region and the Northwest Territories of this land and was very
proud to see the process in place for self-government. As
recently as last April we saw the creation of Nunavut. I will
tell the member that the government is working very hard with our
aboriginal people, who do not speak with one voice, to come up
with self-government and empower them to use their voices to
create what the next century will look like for them.
1055
I also point out for the member opposite, if he would like to
look at the Speech from the Throne, that there is reference made
to the social union. One of the things that the social union
does is allow all levels of government, with the leadership of
the federal government, to stop pointing fingers at each other
and to engage in solutions of the kind the Minister of Labour has
heard in communities as she crossed Canada looking at the
homelessness issue and looking at a variety of ways that all
governments can work together to solve this problem. It is a
national concern of the government, but not one that merely
demands having money thrown at it.
The social union structure allows Canadians to hold all levels
of government accountable. The one thing the government will not
do is risk financial gains by having a balanced financial picture
and dressing down the deficit. We will not run deficits to give
tax cuts, which is happening in Ontario.
Ms. Sarmite Bulte (Parkdale—High Park, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today in the House of
Commons as a member of the government to address the Speech from
the Throne, a speech which I can proudly say has been heralded as
a return to traditional Liberalism.
I would like to thank our new governor general for her eloquent
delivery of the Speech from the Throne and I congratulate her on
her appointment.
In the Speech from the Throne the government has set out its
vision for the next century by providing a comprehensive strategy
to build a higher quality of life for all Canadians. The most
striking thing about the speech is that the government has
acknowledged that in order to successfully implement its strategy
it requires consensus.
The Government of Canada cannot undertake this strategy alone.
It can only do so in partnership and in collaboration, by working
together with other governments, the provinces and the
territories, the private sector, the volunteer sector and
individuals. In fact, there is not a page in the Speech from the
Throne which does not note the importance of working together or
use the words “collaboration” or “partnership”. At the very
beginning of the Speech from the Throne it is stated
unequivocally as follows:
The best way to achieve the promise of Canada for every citizen
is to work together to build the highest quality of life for all
Canadians.
The issue that I would like to address today is the renewed
commitment by the government to invest in Canada's arts and
cultural sectors, for in doing so we are also investing in our
national identity which ensures our sovereignty and serves as a
method of nation building and of promoting a multicultural
society.
As a passionate advocate of Canada's arts and culture and as the
member of parliament for a constituency which is home to many of
Canada's artists, including writers, singers, actors, performers,
filmmakers and producers, I had started to hear concerns that
investments in Canada's culture had become stagnant, that other
interests and interest groups had overshadowed the importance of
a continued investment in the arts.
I was actually confronted with concerns that the last two
budgets had not addressed any new programs or incentives for our
arts and cultural sectors, save and except those programs which
had been envisaged in red book II, the Liberal election platform.
While those programs and funding proposals had indeed been
implemented, the fact still remained that these were not new
commitments. Where was the vision for this sector that would
lead Canada into the next century and ensure our cultural
sovereignty and our national identity?
The concerns voiced by the arts community have been addressed
and I applaud the government on its vision and leadership in
continuing to promote our Canadian arts and cultural sectors.
The following are the themes that I trust will reassure and
enhance our arts and cultural communities.
The government is now committed to ensuring that younger
Canadians, from age 13, are given an opportunity to apply their
creative abilities by providing them with a chance to produce
their first works using traditional approaches and new
technologies in the arts, cultural, digital and other industries.
1100
This commitment acknowledges the importance of arts in making
children creative and preparing them for a knowledge based
economy. There is substantial empirical evidence to show that
children who are exposed to the arts, especially music, at a very
early age score much higher on the math and science components of
the SAT examinations than those who are not exposed.
In November 1997 an article appeared on the front page of the
arts section of the Globe and Mail which confirmed this
evidence and concluded that arts, not computers, make kids
creative. The article stated:
Arts education is not only cheaper, it may be essential training
for a more creative flexible world. Arts, not IBM, makes kids
smarter.
The article also went on to say that arts education by focusing
on the creative process prepares our youth for the highly skilled
jobs that our country requires and will require in the future.
Under international trade investment the Speech from the Throne
noted that the government would increase its trade promotion in
strategic sectors. It specifically noted that one of these
sectors was the cultural sector. This statement gives new
meaning and life to the maxim that culture is a third pillar of
our foreign policy.
The government also committed to use the upcoming WTO
negotiations to build a more transparent rules based trading
system which not only provides for better access in world markets
for Canadian companies in all sectors but also respects the needs
of Canadians, especially culture as is noted.
On the section of infrastructure the Government of Canada has
committed to building a cultural infrastructure. It is committed
to bringing Canadian culture into the digital age, linking 1,100
institutions across the country to form a virtual museum of
Canada. It will put collections from the National Archives, the
National Library and other key institutions on line.
Specifically the speech also notes and vows to increase support
for the production of Canadian stories and images in print,
theatre, film, music and video, and the government has committed
to increase support for the use of new media.
In dealing with physical infrastructure the government has
agreed that it will work with other levels of government and the
private sector to reach agreement on a five year plan for
improving physical infrastructure in urban and rural communities
across the country.
One of the areas of focus specifically noted for physical
infrastucture was culture. I was delighted to see the cultural
sector as a specifically designated area in which to improve our
physical infrastructure. I say so because as a member of
parliament from the city of Toronto we are looking at wonderful
infrastructure projects. In the city of Toronto plans are under
way to build a new state of the art opera house.
In Winnipeg the Manitoba Theatre Centre, at 41 years of age and
Canada's oldest English speaking regional theatre, is in
desperate need of repair. This need has also launched a private
sector campaign to refurbish its two buildings.
This theme brings new hope to a request by the cultural
community to restore funding for the arts in general and
infrastructure matters in particular. More important, this
commitment to improve physical infrastructure for culture appears
to be a direct response to recommendations 32 and 33 of the
Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage report entitled “A Sense
of Place, A Sense of Being: The Evolving Role of the Federal
Government in Support of Culture in Canada”, which was tabled in
the House of Commons in June.
These recommendations call upon the Government of Canada to
re-establish a capital fund and a long term financial strategy to
deal with Canada's deteriorating cultural facilities. I applaud
the government for its quick response to the committee's report.
In the section of the Speech from the Throne entitled “Canada's
Place in the World”, the government stated that it would act
like like-minded countries to reform and strengthen international
institutions such as the World Trade Organization. It also
specifically noted that it would work to develop a new approach
internationally to support the diversity of cultural expression
in countries around the world.
1105
This commitment is a direct endorsement of the report of the
cultural industries sectoral advisory group dated February 1999
wherein it was recommended that the government champion a new
cultural trade covenant, a new international instrument that
would lay out the ground rules for cultural policy.
In addition, this commitment to a new approach internationally
to support the diversity of cultural expression also is a direct
response to recommendation 29 of the report of the Standing
Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade entitled
“Canada and the Future of the World Trade Organization:
Advancing a Millennium Agenda in the Public Interest”, tabled in
the House of Commons in June.
Recommendation 29 specifically calls upon the government to
pursue the policy alternative contained in the cultural SAGIT
report for a new international instrument on cultural diversity.
Again I applaud the government for its quick response to the
report and for the commitment to implement this recommendation.
In conclusion, I am proud to be a member of a government that
not only has a vision but has strategies for all Canadians as we
enter into the 21st century. The Speech from the Throne provides
us with a blueprint to build the 21st century but, as the speech
unequivocally states, we will build the 21st century together.
All Canadians, every citizen, every government, every business
and every community organization, have a part to play.
Mr. Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
I have a lot of time for the hon. member and I appreciate her
commitment to the arts. It is very heart warming.
However I would like to know what the member thinks about what
the federal government actually does with its so-called
investments, that is to say wasteful spending in arts and
culture. What does the hon. member think of the quarter of a
million dollar investment of the minister of heritage in
Bubbles Galore?
Does she think the federal government's cultural agenda should
include producing pornographic films? What does she think about
Hanging the Dead Rabbits? Does she think that is an
important investment in the cultural future of Canada in the 21st
century? Does she think that is necessary to defend our cultural
sovereignty?
A few years ago, in part through a federal grant, the Vancouver
Art Gallery exhibited something called Piss Pope, a picture of
the Holy Father submerged in a jar of the artist's urine. That
was another expenditure by the federal government of our tax
dollars.
We could go on and on and on about the kind of absurd,
disgusting, wasteful excuse for art which the government
finances. How does the hon. member apologize for that?
Ms. Sarmite Bulte: Mr. Speaker, the opposition member
has reported some instances of what he calls wasteful
expenditure. I must say that I see any kind of expenditure in our
art and cultural industries as an investment. It is an
investment in our national identity. It is an investment in our
cultural sovereignty. It is an investment in who we are and what
we are.
Everyone does not have the same taste but culture and art is a
wide-ranging sector. It gives us a sense of place and a sense of
being, as the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage so
eloquently put it. I recommend to my hon. colleague that he
actually take a look at that report and at the recommendations
made by that committee.
Mr. Richard M. Harris (Prince George—Bulkley Valley,
Ref.): Mr. Speaker, there must be many Canadians who voted
for the Liberal Party that are feeling pretty embarrassed right
now that the member would stand to defend the disgusting display
of art or excuse for art that was just talked about by my
colleague from Calgary.
The Liberal member stood to defend spending on that trash that
she refers to as art and a good investment. She owes Canadians a
huge apology for her confirmation that taxpayers dollars were
spent on that kind of disgusting culture and art, as she referred
to it.
She probably owes an apology to some of her colleagues that were
not very pleased with her response to the member from Calgary.
1110
Ms. Sarmite Bulte: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise
today to support the government and the Minister of Canadian
Heritage on continuing investment in the arts and cultural
industries in our country. They are not only a vital part of our
economic growth but, as I have said time and time again, they are
an investment in who we are, what we are, our identity and our
cultural sovereignty.
Let us never forget that arts and culture sovereignty is
inextricably involved with our economic sovereignty. I am proud
to be a member of the government and to support its commitment to
arts and culture.
Mr. Monte Solberg (Medicine Hat, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, it
is a pleasure to speak to the throne speech today and to be back
with colleagues on this side of the House.
In response to the hon. member who just spoke, it is contrary to
what most Canadians believe when she suggests that they should
have their tax money forcibly taken from them and given to
projects which are completely contrary to their values, the
things they believe in.
Some people have very strong religious beliefs, for instance. It
is completely wrong and I believe most Canadians think it is
completely wrong when their tax dollars are forcibly taken to
devote to things those people would consider to be blasphemous.
That is exactly what the Liberal government does, and I cannot
believe it sits there and defends it.
At the beginning of a year most people sit down to make some new
year resolutions. One point that is always universal about
people is that they are always trying to improve their own
situation. They are trying to improve the situation of their
families. When they have the resources to do that, that is
exactly what they do.
As the government moves into not only a new year but a new
decade, a new century, and a new millennium, I would think it
would want to do that too. It should want to make a special
effort to set about reforming how it does things. I would argue,
and I think most Canadians would agree with me when I say it,
there are many areas where the government is simply not doing a
good job.
It is not doing a good job in providing national defence. It is
not doing a good job in our justice system. There is lots of
room for improvement in the delivery of health care and social
services. It is not doing a good job in ensuring that government
is accountable. I would have thought the throne speech would be
full of fundamental reforms to address those kinds of issues.
However it was not. It was a lot of tinkering, and that
certainly characterizes this administration.
I want to talk specifically about an area I am responsible for
critiquing as the official opposition finance critic, the
pathetic attempt the government made to convince people it really
cared about the staggering tax burden. There was barely mention
in the throne speech of why we need dramatic tax relief in Canada
today.
When we wipe away all the rhetoric in the 24 page throne speech,
what are we left with? We are left with an announcement that the
government will make an announcement about tax relief at some
point in the future. We are also left with a whole slew of tax
increases which are coming our way very soon.
On January 1 we will see a payroll tax hike because Canada
pension plan taxes are going up once again. We will see
personal income taxes going up because of bracket creep. Some
85,000 people will be dragged on the tax rolls for the first time
and hundreds of thousands of others will be pushed up into new
tax brackets. We will see small business face a tax increase
because their small business exemption will be eroded by
inflation. They will pay more in taxes. It will be the same for
the small business capital gains exemption and for farmers and
their capital gains exemption. That will mean a tax increase for
all those people. That is the reality.
All this talk that we hear on the other side about how much the
government cares about taxes really does not amount to a whole
lot when we look at what it will actually do. It will raise
taxes.
The government talks about its plan to cut taxes. We will hear
about that in the next few days. It is to reduce taxes by $16.5
billion, but it does not say at the same time that it is raising
taxes by over $18 billion.
The net result is that Canadians who now face the highest taxes
in Canadian history will face even higher taxes thanks to the
finance minister and the Liberal government. That is wrong. It
is wrong for a couple of reasons.
1115
First and probably most important, it is wrong because it hurts
people. If the government really were compassionate and wanted
to be fair and provide people with options and opportunities, it
would have devoted the first 12 pages of the throne speech to
explaining how it would deliver tax relief to help hard-pressed
Canadians. It is unbelievable that we stagger under this
tremendous tax burden today where families who earn less than
$20,000 a year are paying $6 billion a year in taxes.
My friend from Crowfoot told me not long ago about a woman and
in fact I saw her income tax return. She made $11,000 and paid
$600 in federal income tax. That is shameful and that party
claims to be compassionate. We have raised many examples in this
place of people who make extraordinarily low incomes and pay
extraordinarily high taxes.
I could go through some examples but I want to talk for a moment
about an example presented to me yesterday by my friend from
North Vancouver. He gave me a letter from a woman whose husband
makes $65,000 a year, which is a pretty good salary in most
people's minds. However, they have the misfortune of living in
socialist British Columbia and on top of the high tax burden the
Liberal government imposes upon them, they have an effective tax
rate of 52%. Even at that, they had to pay $800 extra in taxes
over and above the 52% of their paycheque they have to give to
government every year.
The result is the family has to take one car off the road. They
cannot live in Vancouver with the high cost of living and pay all
the taxes this government and the British Columbia government
demand. Believe it or not, because of the jeopardy the man's job
is in, they are talking about resorting to welfare. They simply
cannot put aside enough money to help them get through what will
be a layoff period for this man. It is very disturbing when a
person makes $65,000 and he can barely make it because of the tax
burden imposed by the government.
I happened to be looking through some documents which were
confidential until we received them through access to information
a little while ago. Even the minister's own briefing notes
acknowledge that Canada has by far the highest tax burden in the
entire G-7. Out of all of our trading partners, out of all of
the most prosperous nations in the world, we have by far the
highest personal income taxes.
I always find it amazing that in Canada today people pay more in
taxes than they spend on food, shelter and clothing combined.
When we add all of that up, it does not leave much left over.
When all those taxes are paid and money is spent on the bare
necessities of life, there is very little left over. That is why
we are in a position in Canada today where we have seen
disposable incomes mired at 1980 levels. For 20 years we have
had our disposable incomes mired at that 1980 level.
What did the government do about it in the throne speech? It
devoted one line to the issue. There was much airy talk in the
throne speech about Internet programs and acting as a big travel
agency for young people and sending them around. That is really
nice but it is not a luxury we can afford today, not when
Canadians are staggering under that level of taxation. It is
ridiculous. If the government were really fair, it would
acknowledge that it was Canadians who balanced that budget for
it.
Does the House realize that the average family today is paying
taxes 30% higher than it was six years ago? That is $4,300, a
staggering number. It is not the finance minister nor the
government that balanced the budget; it was balanced on the backs
of taxpayers. Fairness decrees that they should now get some tax
relief.
1120
The Reform Party has been arguing since it came into being 12
years ago that we need to give Canadians a tax break. We want to
see that happen.
I want to speak just a little bit about the situation on the
farm today. I come from a farm riding. I want to talk about how
taxes hurt farmers. Do hon. members realize that taxes are
embedded in just about every input they can think of? Fuel taxes
take up about 50% of the price of fuel. On fertilizer and
chemicals and machinery, taxes take up 15%, 20% to 30% of the
price of those things. If we could lower taxes we could help
people in a direct way on the farm, but we do not see that coming
from this government.
In conclusion, I simply want to say that the fairest way to
treat Canadians as we go into the next millennium is to lower
their tax burden. They will take those resources and use them to
help their families and to help children, which is something that
the government claims it is concerned about. Canadians will use
those resources to help their friends and their neighbours and to
strengthen their own situation. Ultimately, I think most
Canadians would agree that a dollar left in the hands of the
taxpayer will be a lot better utilized than a dollar left in the
hands of a politician or a bureaucrat.
Mr. Richard M. Harris (Prince George—Bulkley Valley,
Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the
Reform Party finance critic, for his excellent presentation in
debate today.
I would like him to centre in on one thing which I think is of a
huge concern to Canadian families. That is the shrinking
disposable income in the household money they are able to spend
and how it has decreased since this Liberal government came to
power in 1993. Also, perhaps the member could explain to us what
that extra tax means in the lives of Canadian families.
Mr. Monte Solberg: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address
that question from my colleague from Prince George—Bulkley
Valley.
The fact is that Canadians have seen their disposable income
stuck at 1980 levels. For the things the government claims it
cares about most, for instance children, it means that children
are put in a terrible position.
Not long ago I received a letter which had been passed on to me
by the member for Cariboo—Chilcotin. In that letter a young
woman explained that because of the EI rate of this government
and the fact that people were not getting those employment
insurance premiums back, she could not afford to put her young
son into hockey. That is the sort of thing that happens on a day
to day basis across the country.
It was not very long ago when the leader of the Reform Party
brought a family from New Brunswick to Ottawa and explained what
the Reform plan of reducing taxes would do for that family. About
$3,000 would go back to that family. We actually gave them that
money. What did they use it on? They used it on things like
dental care. They used it for things like glasses. They used it
to go on a family vacation, something they had not been able to
do for several years. They also used it to pay back an RRSP that
they had to cash in to pay their tax bill.
That is the situation many families in Canada are in today. I
was ashamed of the government for not recognizing that towering
fact which everybody else in Canada seems to know about but which
this government always ignores.
Mr. Grant McNally (Dewdney—Alouette, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, it has become quite clear that the Liberal Party, the
Government of Canada, is using a new code word for its favourite
thing to do which is spending, and that word is investment. I do
not know how many times we have heard it throughout the throne
speech. The intervention of the member for Parkdale—High Park,
who is so proud of returning to liberalism, defends the
outrageous spending habits of the government.
I would like my hon. colleague's comments on this word
investment. Could he tell us what that really means in terms of
government spending?
1125
Mr. Monte Solberg: Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for
his question. At a time when we are trying to devote resources
to the highest priorities, we are in a situation where the
government is taking not a few million dollars but literally
billions of dollars in all kinds of departments to devote it to
what is stupid spending. It tries to cover it up by calling it
investment.
Frankly, it is obscene what it does with some of the money but a
lot of it is just serious waste. That money could be used for
things that the government claims it cares about. What is a
higher priority, spending money on pornographic films or
providing hospital beds? Or should it be used to provide tax
relief for Canadian families who are struggling? Should we be
giving grants to big business or should we be using that money to
ensure that children in Canada have a proper education?
Those are the sorts of things that are priorities, not grants to
special interest groups, big business and ridiculous campaigns to
impose certain cultural values on other Canadians using their tax
money.
It is time the government came clean and simply explained to
people that really its intention is not to use that money wisely
but to spend it frivolously in too many cases.
Mr. Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
I am delighted to rise on debate on Her Excellency's Speech from
the Throne.
As the member for Parkdale—High Park said in her articulate
defence of anti-Catholic government funded
pornographic art, this budget was filled with all kinds of
marvellous Liberal-style investments. It was a return to old
fashioned liberalism, namely the arrogance of a tax and spend
philosophy which believes that politicians and bureaucrats in
Ottawa know better how to spend a scarce dollar than do a
homemaker, a small business person, an entrepreneur or a
taxpayer. That is the philosophy of the Speech from the Throne
which we heard earlier this week.
The government devoted a couple of words in the speech to some
token talk about tax relief, but it also said that the government has
already cut taxes. We know we cannot believe the completely
specious commitment to tax relief from the government given the
fact that it has not yet delivered any tax relief. In fact what it
has delivered are tax increases. It is tax grief for Canada, not
tax relief.
If the government has lowered taxes, then why is it
bringing $40 billion more into the federal treasury than it was
six years ago? Why is it that federal taxes are up $4,200 or 30%
for an average family since 1993? Why is it that federal
revenues as a percentage of our gross domestic product, the most
objective measurement, are at their highest level ever at over
18%?
Why is it that we continue to see, according to the major
economic firm Wood Gundy that “the net impact of the last five
Liberal budgets has been to raise Canada's tax bill some $6
billion in 1999-2000 above what would have been paid under the
1993 tax regime”? Wood Gundy also said “from a tax
competitiveness standpoint, Canada ranks dead last in the G-7.
While virtually every other G-7 economy lowered its personal
income tax burden over the last 15 years, Canada's rose sharply,
both as a percentage of GDP and of household income”.
But we do not have to quote the experts or look at the stats that
the government ignores because we do not have to make this case
to Canadians. They know when they get their paycheques. They
know when they look at their pay stubs that they are going home
with less than they did in 1993 when this government came into
power with a pledge never to raise taxes.
I remember the Prime Minister saying when he was asked if he
would raise taxes, “Well, I can't rule it out, there might be a
war or something”. Well there has been a war. It has been a
war on Canadian taxpayers and they are paying more than they ever
have before.
The huge and growing tax burden has had a tremendous impact on
Canadians. Just in the last couple of days while we have been
debating the throne speech our dollar has gone down again by
another half cent. That is the ultimate measurement by the
international markets of the value of our economy, of our
currency and it ultimately reflects the fiscal policy of the
government.
It is a reflection of the impoverishment of Canadians, Canadians
who are coming home today with about $900 less after tax than
they did in 1989, Canadians who are working harder but coming
home with less while the average American taxpayer is coming home
with an average after tax disposable raise of $2,000 over the
same period of time. Americans are getting richer while
Canadians are getting poorer.
1130
The Liberal government loves to bash the United States. The
United States has its fair share of problems, but I do not think
we should take pride in becoming poorer as they become richer. I
do not think we should take pride in what the Minister of
Industry said last February, that had Canadian productivity,
competitiveness and growth kept pace with that of the United
States over the past two decades the average family in Canada
would be $28,000 a year better off. That is apparently the moral
high ground that the government takes in its posturing and its
bashing of an economy which is growing much faster than our own.
We do not have to debate the statistics; we have to look at real
people's lives to see the impact this is having. I spent all
four weeks of September in nine of the ten provinces and in
nearly 30 communities speaking to business people, entrepreneurs,
chambers of commerce and small business folks. I was on
university campuses and in high schools. Again and again in
every region of the country I heard that we have a huge and
growing drain of talent and entrepreneurialism out of this
country, not just to the United States but to other more
competitive, faster growing and lower tax jurisdictions.
This summer the Conference Board of Canada released a major
study wherein it indicated that the number of Canadians who are
going to the United States increased from 17,000 in 1986 to over
98,000 in 1997. The government denies it. The Liberals put
their heads in the sand and say the problem does not exist.
Why then is it that nearly 70% of our computer science graduates
are now leaving this country? These people will be creating
untold future wealth and economic opportunity, and contributing
to a tax base to finance health care, education and pensions. We
want these people here, contributing to our tax base so that we
can afford to pay down the debt, to grow the economy, to pay for
health care and to pay for a civil society. We are literally
eating away at the productive capacity of our economy.
I was on a university campus this summer where 120 of the 130
kids who graduated from computer science last year took
placements outside Canada because they could not find economic
opportunities here. The capital was not here to invest and
create new cutting edge, information technology businesses and
economic opportunities for those kids.
But this is not just a question of stats and dollars and taxes;
it is a question of lives. Every one of those kids who has left
the country represents the hopes and dreams of Canadian families
who believed that if they worked hard, played by the rules, paid
their taxes and invested in their children's education they would
see their children and grandchildren raised happily and in
prosperity in Canada. What do we have instead? We have
thousands and thousands of broken dreams because of the broken
economy delivered by this government's high tax, high regulatory,
high debt, high spending policies.
We in the official opposition have a proposal to cut the tax
burden overall by 25% through a whole suite of broad based tax
cuts that would lift over one million low income people off the
tax rolls, people who ought not to be paying taxes in the first
place, single moms with minimum wages, and low income, fixed
income seniors who are paying taxes today but were not six years
ago because of the government's heartless and insidious bracket
creep tax on the poor which forces low income people onto the tax
rolls. That is our top priority. We want to relieve those
people entirely of their tax obligations, which finance
government investments like Bubbles Galore.
Reformers also believe it is critically important that we
generate new investment and capital formation to create
opportunities for those young people who are leaving today, as
well as to cut the insidious tax on wealth creation called the
capital gains tax.
Canada has an effective capital gains tax rate of nearly 40%,
while in the United States the effective rate has been lowered to
18% and Congress has just passed a law that would take it to 11%,
fully indexed.
1135
The United States is not going to stop there. The chairman of
the federal reserve, the leading economic authority in the world
today, has called on Congress twice publicly to eliminate the
American capital gains taxes, as has been done in Ireland, Hong
Kong and so many other jurisdictions. How can we believe that we
can retain capital in this country to create wealth, jobs and
quality of living as long as we have this enormous and growing
differential?
Yesterday the finance minister made a specious claim. He said
that the Reform Party would have to cut spending, and he picked
some absurd number out of the air like $50 billion or some such
fictitious nonsense, in order to finance our $25 billion in
total tax cuts. The finance minister knows perfectly well
that if he did not increase spending, as he plans to do, we would
see surpluses of about $25 billion a year within five years.
That is not all. Every jurisdiction in the world that has cut
tax rates has seen revenues grow. Ireland has cut its corporate
tax rates from 40%, the highest in Europe, to 10%, the lowest,
and it has seen an explosion in revenues and economic growth. It
is the fastest growing economy in Europe.
The United States cut its taxes in 1962 and in 1982, its high
marginal rates and capital gains rates. In both instances it saw
an explosion in revenues from those sources.
Right here at home, of course, Mike Harris and his common sense
revolution cut income taxes by 30% and saw a massive growth in
revenues from the income tax.
The moral of the story is that tax cuts are necessary to grow
the economy.
The government says we have to wait for growth before we can cut
taxes. We will never get to that kind of real growth if we wait
to cut taxes. It is time that we got our priorities right. It
is time that we let those young people who are leaving stay here
to build a brighter future so that their parents can see their
dreams realized here at home in Canada.
Mr. John Herron (Fundy—Royal, PC): Mr. Speaker, I would
like to compliment the hon. member and the hon. member who spoke
before him on their fine presentations. What they were stating
is intrinsically true. Those regimes which have low taxes have
high growth and the chance to create growth and wealth.
From 1992 to 1997 taxes have increased 15% as a percentage of
income for Canadian families, to the extent that they now spend
more money on personal income taxes than they do on food,
clothing or household operations. Given that fact, if the
government really wants to develop a children's agenda and it
wants to invest in and enhance institutions that invest in the
betterment of children, why does it not invest in the institution
that has proven to be successful for children, that being the
Canadian family? If the government really wants to enhance the
welfare of children in the country, why does it not provide the
tax relief to Canadian families that they so earnestly deserve?
Mr. Jason Kenney: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon.
member's question. I can only assume that the answer is that the
members of the Liberal government honestly believe, and I grant
them that they believe this sincerely in their little red Liberal
hearts, that they and their bureaucrats here in Ottawa know
better how to spend an extra buck than a taxpayer in Fundy—Royal
or Calgary Southeast. That is fundamentally what drives the
philosophy of this throne speech and this government. It is a
philosophy which has been abandoned by virtually every other
government of the developed world.
Let us take again the case of Ireland. It had a subsidy
drenched subsistence economy with the highest taxes in Europe,
whose only major export was its young people. They could have
kind of moped along and said “Oh, well, we politicians and
bureaucrats are going to keep on subsidizing, raising taxes and
intervening in the economy”, but they had the courage to do
something different. They took a risk. They went out and cut
corporate taxes from 40% to 10%. They cut income taxes. They
cut their capital gains taxes. What they saw was a massive
explosion in that economy, so that now 20% of the direct
investment in Europe is going to a country with only 1% of
Europe's population.
They became the second largest software exporter in the world.
Ireland's population is now growing for the first time in 150
years.
1140
I cannot hesitate to remind my colleague from Fundy—Royal that,
unfortunately, it was his party's government which oversaw the
largest decrease in after tax disposable income in modern
Canadian economic history because of its 72 tax increases, but I
will not mention that.
Mrs. Karen Kraft Sloan (York North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
I am delighted that the member opposite has raised the issue of
the Tory tax increases that we all had to suffer through in the
1980s. However, there was a group of Canadians who enjoyed some
tax reductions. Those are some of the wealthiest Canadians in
this country.
As someone who lives in the province of Ontario, I hear all this
talk about the united alternative, uniting options on the right
and tax cutters for the rich. The only thing they are interested
in doing is cutting taxes for the rich. They do not care about
the health and the well-being of families in this country. They
do not care about the struggles of the lower income classes. It
is a farce when they talk about cutting taxes. What they are
really talking about is making more money available for their
rich friends, whether their rich friends are in Calgary or in
Fundy—Royal.
I ask the member opposite if indeed he was willing to join in
the hands of friendship and ideology with members of the
Conservative Party as it slashed the taxes of the rich and made
the poor continue to pay?
Mr. Jason Kenney: Mr. Speaker, this coming from a member
whose government takes $6 billion a year from people earning
under $20,000 a year. It is a government that takes $12 billion
a year from people earning under $30,000 a year. It is a
government that has put 900,000 low income people on the tax
rolls through its back door tax increase called bracket creep.
It is a government that gives billions of dollars of subsidies
away to its big business friends like Bombardier.
When I hear the millionaires who populate the front bench of the
government talk about concern for the poor, whom they put on the
tax rolls and from whom they extract billions of dollars, it is a
little bit disingenuous. The reality is that the top 1% of
income earners in Canada pay over 20% of federal taxes. They are
paying their share. Maybe it is time the millionaires on the
front bench of the government paid their share.
Mr. Hec Clouthier (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely delighted to inform the House that I
will be sharing my time with the Ciceronian orator from
Mississauga West.
I am privileged and pleased to stand in my place to speak on
behalf of all constituents of the great riding of
Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke to make a reply to that carefully
crafted, compassionate, caring 1999 throne speech.
Last night I had the privilege of having the Minister of Finance
appear at a function in my riding. I might add that he braved
rather stormy weather to make it up to the Petawawa Civic Centre.
When he spoke, and he spoke very eloquently, he thanked the many
people of the great riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, in
the upper Ottawa valley, for everything they have done in the
last 150 years to make Canada the greatest country in the world
in which to live.
I looked around the room to see some of the people who were
participating in this rather auspicious event. There were 10
other members of parliament who attended. Some of them are here
in the House as we speak. As a matter of fact, some of them were
from the opposition. I must say, unequivocally, that I agreed
with the Minister of Finance that he had definitely hit the nail
on the head.
What the throne speech effectively did was tell the Canadian
people that the government has done a great job. We hope that it
continues to do so as we continue to build the country to
greatness.
1145
I looked around the room and at a table was my 83 year old
father, Hector Sr., who has a grade four education. I know the
hon. member for Calgary Southeast wanted to talk about people
with money. I will be the first to admit that my father has
money. I have nothing. I do not even have hair. At the age of
83 he has more hair than I. My father worked very hard for
everything he has accomplished in life. At one time he had two
lumber camps on the go with 125 men in each camp. He paid his
dues. He is a good French Canadian Catholic married to an Irish
lassie. They had 10 children and, I might add, my mother said I
was the best of the 10. I grew up to be the worst which I guess
pointed clearly to a career in politics.
At that same table sat the two aunts of our current finance
minister. I will not divulge their ages but my father apparently
took one of the finance minister's aunts out on a date many years
ago. What is interesting to note is that our finance minister's
father, the late Paul Martin Sr., was born and raised in
Pembroke. He went to school and launched his political career in
Pembroke.
The hon. members opposite can talk about being American
wannabes, but what do the Americans cherish most about Canada?
They cherish our valued health care system, our medicare. Paul
Martin Sr. was the genesis who promoted medicare back in the
1950s and 1960s. We would not have that valued program were it
not for people like Paul Martin Sr. When they are talking about
balancing the books and reducing taxes, in many instances the
members of the loyal opposition are talking about a frontal
attack on medicare. Let us keep things in perspective.
Sitting at that same table was a man by the name of Roy
Geisebreck, whom the finance minister will remember playing
hockey with back in the 1950s and 1960s in Pembroke and Petawawa.
The Geisebreck family is not only famous for their hockey playing
talents. The member opposite spoke rather eloquently about small
and medium sized businesses. The Geisebreck family has been one
of the business mainstays in my riding for well over 70 years.
There were seven brothers involved in the business started by
their late dad, Charlie. Now Roy Geisebreck, who is 82, is the
patriarch of that remarkable family.
It is people like Roy Geisebreck and his family who have really
built this county through hard work and determination. They did
not skate around the issue like some of the hon. members from the
Reform Party and some of the opposition. I might add that Roy
Geisebreck's son, Don Geisebreck, and I are partners in a few
racehorses. It saddens me to say that some of those famous
Geisebreck brothers can actually skate faster than my horses can
run.
John Yakabuski was there from Barry's Bay. His father was a
member of the provincial government for over 23 years, the
provincial government that Premier Mike Harris currently leads.
John has seen the light. He has seen that I am going to support
the Liberal Party. He was there last night supporting a well
known Liberal in my constituency. His father was a former member
of the Conservative Party. I believe that if Paul Yakabuski was
alive today he would turn over in his grave for the way the
provincial Conservative government has treated the quality of
life for the people in the province of Ontario.
The hon. member opposite talks about tax cuts. They made tax
cuts, no question about it, but with borrowed money. One should
not make tax cuts with borrowed money. As a result of making
those tax cuts with borrowed money, they had to do some closures.
1150
In my riding they closed the Civic Hospital in Pembroke,
Ontario. They tried to close a senior citizen's complex in
Cobden, Ontario but there was a real brouhaha. We fought back,
as only we can do in the upper Ottawa valley, and it did not
close.
John Yakabuski, as we speak, is on council in Barry's Bay. He
has also taken over his dad's hardware business and is doing a
remarkable job. Again, I say to the member opposite, he is one
of these people with a small and medium-sized business who is
certainly promoting not only the quality of life for Canadians
but also the Canadian culture. He was absolutely delighted last
night with the throne speech that was brought down by Her
Excellency Adrienne Clarkson.
Mr. Speaker, you are well aware of Renfrew, Ontario. I believe
that you have a cottage up in Renfrew where on occasion you go
canoeing and swim. You would know Mac Wilson from Renfrew. Mac
Wilson was at this very auspicious event last night. Mac Wilson
suffered some health problems about six or seven months ago. He
was hospitalized in Ottawa because we have great medicare and he
took advantage of the medicare system. Mac was on his back. What
did he do? Did he give up? No, he fought back. He picked
himself up and went back to work in Renfrew. He is the
industrial commissioner but not only that, as you well know, Mr.
Speaker by knowing Mr. Wilson personally, he is one of the great
entrepreneurial spirits in Renfrew, Ontario.
We had big Len Shean there last night. He is the mayor of
Arnprior. Len got up and asked the finance minister what we were
going to do about the four-laning of Highway 17. I completely
agree with Mr. Shean, the big mayor. He said we should have more
funding set aside for the four-laning of Highway 17. The finance
minister clearly indicated to him that we were looking favourably
at it but that basically it was at the disposal of the provincial
Conservative government. However, we will arm-twist and I am
sure that we will get the job done.
We had Tommy Donohue there from the farming community of
Douglas. He is another person that you know, Mr. Speaker. Stay
in your own riding, Mr. Speaker, and do not run in mine because I
would like to be here again and again and hear many more throne
speeches to make sure that we take the lead in providing what the
country needs.
One singular characteristic that is endemic to all of these
people I have spoken about, and not only to those people but to
many people throughout Canada, is simply that they have taken
personal responsibility for their lives. They do not want us,
nor do we want as a government, to infringe upon their
entrepreneurial spirit or their joie de vivre by saying that we
are going to tell them what to do. These people take personal
responsibility for their lives. They have the vision. They have
the values of this party and, I am sure, of every colleague in
the House.
I am absolutely delighted to speak on this the last throne
speech for the 20th century and hopefully, if the voters from the
great riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke see fit, I will be
here for the first of many throne speeches delivered from this
side of the House I might add, so that we will continue to charge
on to greatness for this wonderful country called Canada.
Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, it
is my pleasure to rise today in reply to my colleague on the
throne speech.
Before I do that, I would just like to congratulate Her
Excellency Adrienne Clarkson on her appointment to the position
of Governor General.
What my colleague from the other side said is quite interesting.
I would just like to remind him that he is in a federal
parliament not in a provincial legislature talking about
provincial issues.
Let me ask the member this question. It was quoted today in the
paper by the Minister of Industry that a stronger focus is needed
on tax cuts. It states here that he is wise enough to put on the
record that tax reform is an important issue. The government is
not taking this issue as seriously as its own industry minister.
I would like the hon. member to comment on that point.
Mr. Hec Clouthier: Mr. Speaker, here we go again. When
the Reform Party first got elected their mantra for years and
years was that we have to reduce the deficit.
There was really no talk about tax cuts. Its plan, fresh start,
or no start, or behind start, or whatever it was, false start,
kick start, clearly said to the Canadian public that we had to
eradicate the deficit that was left behind by the Conservative
government. I might add that probably 98% of those members—and
I just saw a former Liberal, who is in the Reform Party,
leave—were probably Conservative supporters before they joined
this other party. They were responsible for a $43 billion annual
deficit. We eradicated that deficit. We now have a surplus and
are giving tax cuts. We have given $16.5 billion in tax cuts.
1155
I do not know of what the member speaks. We are moving in a
comprehensive manner. We will give further tax cuts. That is
clearly in our red book agenda. I do not know where he is coming
from. I might tell the hon. member opposite something which I
said to the Civitan Club last week in Cobden, Ontario. One
person got up and asked me if I liked paying taxes. I told him
to get on the band wagon. I said that I do not like paying taxes
but that they are a reality of life. If the hon. member opposite
does not want to pay taxes he should move to some third world
country where there are no taxes. However, my friend, there is
also nothing else, no schools, no infrastructure, no security, no
nothing. We will reduce and we have reduced taxes.
It is egregious, it is polemic, it is downright stupid for the
Reform Party to stand and say “cut taxes” when we have already
done that. All their mantra was to get rid of the deficit and we
have done that. As a matter of fact, in the Reform Party's false
start agenda it stated it would reach a no deficit in the exalted
timeframe of the year 2000. Let me get this straight. I am not
a mathematical genius, but we did it two years in advance and we
will continue to do it. This is the first time there has been
two balanced budgets since 1951-52. I hope that answers the hon.
member.
[Translation]
Mr. Maurice Godin (Châteauguay, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I listened to
the member speak about his family's history. It was
interesting. However, after four months of inactivity, I was
expecting to hear something about the throne speech.
The purpose of a throne speech half way through a term of office
is not the same as one at the beginning of a term of office.
Right now, there are problems. The focus of the member's speech
could have been very specific.
I would like the member to take a few moments to talk to us
about the constitutional crisis, the fisheries crisis, the
health and education crisis, the transportation crisis, the
poverty crisis, the EI crisis and the millennium scholarship
crisis.
After four months of inactivity, I think it is time to deal with
serious issues and leave family history aside.
Mr. Hec Clouthier: Mr. Speaker, I am very very proud of my
family. My father was a logger and a farmer, and I am proud of
that.
The hon. member says that the member for
Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke is always talking about people. But
Canada is its people. I would tell my friend: “Stay in Canada
because you know that this is the greatest country of them all.
Stay calm, my friend. You know very well that it is the country
of all the people served by all the members of this House of
Commons”. I am very surprised that he feels education is not—
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): I am sorry to interrupt the
hon. Member but his time is up. The hon. member for Mississauga
West.
[English]
Mr. Steve Mahoney (Mississauga West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
congratulations to you on the exalted position you have been
returned to.
How does one follow the oratorical splendour of the previous
speaker? He neglected to tell the House that the event he was
talking about last evening was his 50th birthday party.
We should say happy birthday to our friend from Pembroke. I was
also interested to hear him tell the House that his mother and
dad had 10 children, as did mine, interestingly enough. We have
a few other things in common. We are brothers. It appears we
must be related.
1200
He talked about his father. The interesting thing about my
situation is that my dad was a national labour leader. I often
say that having 10 children, my mother and dad were the only
couple I knew who were constantly in labour together.
I find it interesting, though, returning to the issue at hand,
to listen to what clearly amounts to nothing more than a feeding
frenzy by the opposition.
I thought about this place over the break this summer. I
thought that it would be interesting to try to bring some
civility into parliament. I must admit that sometimes I have
contributed to the rising temperature in some members opposite. I
was shocked this morning, when I got back on my elevator to go
upstairs in my apartment building, to see the member for Wild
Rose coming down. My God, he is in my building and there goes
the neighbourhood. Property values are apparently in serious
trouble. I will have to look for alternative accommodation.
The Reform Party spent the summer, as we all know, busily
bashing one another. Infighting occurred. Expulsions into the
back row or oblivion or right out of caucus appeared on the front
page of every journal in the country on a regular basis. Then
when Reformers got tired of that they bashed poor Joe Clark. It
seems that Mr. Clark has rejected their amorous attempts to bring
them together in bed. All this internal combustion that has been
taking place appears to be exploding. Someone has lit a match
under them, I guess, and it appears to be now exploding back into
this place in parliament.
As much as I really want to try to deal with the issues, it
would be interesting if the opposition parties could try to do
the same thing. What they are doing now is just simply,
mindlessly, without any kind of proper research other than
perhaps the National Post, casting aspersions.
I talked to Canadians all summer. When they watch this stuff
they get confused. They ask who is right and who they should
believe. Should they believe the Reform Party? We are saying we
will cut taxes. The Reform Party cannot take yes for an answer.
Canadians look at it and wonder if they should believe these guys
in the opposition or believe the government.
I heard one thing this morning from the opposition that I agree
with. The critic for finance said that Canadians deserve credit
for the financial turnaround of the country, and he is absolutely
right. Unfortunately he then went off into a tirade of
nonsensical nonsense, if there is such a thing, a double
standard, and he lost a very good point. It is the people in
Canada who indeed have worked hard, who have re-elected the
government because they believed in the platform that we put
forward.
We put our cards on the table. We said that we would eliminate
that $42 billion deficit. We said that we would reduce taxes. We
have done that, regardless of what the opposition continues to
say, by some $16 billion in the last budget. We will reduce
taxes again in spite of what members opposite say. Over 600,000
low income Canadians have been taken off the tax rolls
altogether.
Have we done enough? I do not think so. Could we ever do
enough to satisfy the appetite of members opposite? I do not
think so. Canadians can ask themselves one question, which is the
measure of whom to believe: Are we better off as individuals
Canadians than we were in 1993?
1205
Members opposite say we are worse off. The United Nations says
this is the greatest country in the world in which to live. We
know that. I find it interesting that one can say it is the
greatest country in the world in which to live unless one lives
here. People want to complain.
I had an experience this summer when I went to Strasbourg,
France, to the Council of Europe. I listened to the issues that
were being debated. There were 41 countries from Europe that got
together in Strasbourg at the Council of Europe, a 50 year old
institution. I listened to issues they dealt with. They dealt
with war, death, destruction of communities, ethnic cleansing and
annihilation of entire races of people.
I am not denigrating or putting down the problems we have in the
country. Some of them are extremely serious but let us take a
look around the world. This country is a marvellous place.
Perhaps opposition members could at least concede that this
country is a marvellous place and that Canadians are not boastful
people as our Prime Minister said. We are quiet, industrious and
hard working as a nation. We are known for that throughout the
world.
An hon. member: Are you quiet?
Mr. Steve Mahoney: Maybe not all of us are quiet, I would
agree, but we are hard working and industrious. It cannot
possibly be the doom and gloom we hear opposite.
I give some credit to the member for Wild Rose for raising the
very valid issue of the problems on our reserves. It puzzles me,
when I hear a member from the opposite side talking about
supporting the natives on our reserves and improving their
quality of life, that they do not support the Nisga'a treaty.
That treaty has wide support in British Columbia yet they do not
support it.
I also heard them talk about people on the street. If there is
one problem that is absolutely visible to people who come to this
country from other parts of the world, it is the fact that we
have a serious homelessness problem. We must do something about
it.
It is mentioned in the throne speech, but let me add that a
throne speech is a visionary document. It is not a document,
unlike what the opposition would like, that simply lays out
specifics about the size of a tax cut. Even though it does say
there will be a multi-year tax cut based hopefully on a five year
plan it cannot give the specifics. The work is yet to be done.
Members opposite know full well that those specifics will appear
in a budget in February, a budget for which I am quite sure they
already have their negative remarks prepared. It will lay it out
in detail.
The issues of homelessness and affordable housing are mentioned
in the throne speech. Once again one would not or could not
possibly put the specifics in a throne speech which deals with a
vision of the government.
Turning to the issue of children, my close friend and
brother-in-law from England once said to me that when babies
start killing babies we have a serious problem. I do not want to
overdramatize the issue but we have seen an explosion in the
youth in all of North America. It has even occurred in western
Canada. There is a reason for it and we must address the reason.
It cannot be fixed overnight. There have to be stronger
families, stronger opportunities for parental care and
supervision, and strong leadership within families.
It is my view that a throne speech simply sets out the vision
for that to occur. We want to do all these things and it is
difficult to balance everything.
1210
We believe in tax cuts. We absolutely believe in reducing the
debt which is a burden for future children of the country. It is
a top priority. We believe in our children and in our youth and
that the plan laid out in the throne speech has very strong
merits to make us the country of the next millennium.
Mr. Grant McNally (Dewdney—Alouette, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, it hurts me to say this but I would like to compliment
my two Liberal colleagues on their speeches. I do so because
they spoke from the heart. While I fundamentally disagree with
much of what they say, they have the ability to speak from their
hearts rather than from a canned speech handed to them by
somebody in the lobby. I disagree with much of what they say but
I appreciate the fact that they are speaking from their hearts.
Perhaps they could talk to their colleagues and give us a little
more entertainment in this place.
My colleague made a comment about whom people should trust or
believe. People should look at the actions of the government,
not at the words but at the actions and what has happened.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): I am really sorry to
interrupt the member for Dewdney—Alouette but he used his 30
seconds to compliment them and we will go now to the member for
Mississauga West.
Mr. Steve Mahoney: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for
the compliments. That is probably all I need to say. I know
what his question was—
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): We will go now to
the member for Churchill River.
Mr. Rick Laliberte (Churchill River, NDP): Mr. Speaker,
the regional diversity of Canada is witnessed by everyone who
travels the country, but the agricultural industry and the family
farm are in crisis. Time and time again everyone points to the
throne speech and says that the family farm was not discussed.
Perhaps the member could respond at some point in time to the
fact that part of our family has fallen into hard times. Can he
speak to this issue at all?
Mr. Steve Mahoney: Mr. Speaker, not representing a
farming community obviously puts me at some disadvantage, but as
national politicians we must address all these issues.
I thank the member for raising the issue. Our government must
continue to support GRIP. We have to find a way to make the
family farm stronger. That is part of the overall goal. One
does not exclude one segment of society simply because there may
not be a specific reference.
We are talking about tax cuts. I think they will help farmers.
We are talking about new technology, investing in science,
finding new ways to treat crops, new ways to cut costs for
farmers and programs that are already in place.
I agree with the member's concern and I am confident the
government will help farmers.
Mr. Myron Thompson (Wild Rose, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I
have a couple of comments. Forty-eight per cent of the farming
community in the areas we have been referring to are up for
bankruptcy. Quality of life is in jeopardy for these people,
which is something the member would not know anything about
because he thinks milk comes from a carton or that pork is
manufactured in some plant.
I wish the Liberal government could visit reserves to see the
squalor that exists. The Nisga'a agreement does not solve that
but accountability does.
When the government came to power in 1993 it announced that one
million children were living in poverty and that something had to
be done. This morning it was reported that figure increased by
66%. Would the member forget trying to be a comedian and tell me
how this wonderful caring Liberal government could allow the
number of children in poverty to go up by 66% since it has come
into power?
Mr. Steve Mahoney: Mr. Speaker, I do not consider child
poverty to be a very funny issue at all. Our government has
announced that we have already increased the national child
credit and that we are committed to doing more in that area.
The most important thing we can do for the country is to ensure
that all families, all Canadians, have equal access to
opportunity; that children go to school with full bellies in the
morning; and that they have proper supervision and someone to
come home to at the end of the day.
I have raised three boys and I have some understanding of where
milk comes from, regardless of the member's denigrating remarks.
1215
We must and we will do something about child poverty. It will
be action, not words, and not the negativity I hear coming from
members opposite.
[Translation]
Mr. Stéphane Bergeron: Mr. Speaker,
I rise on a point of order.
I would simply like to draw to your
attention the fact that my colleague from Beauharnois—Salaberry
will be sharing his time with my colleague for
Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, and that all colleagues in the Bloc
Quebecois will be sharing time for the rest of the debate.
Mr. Daniel Turp (Beauharnois—Salaberry, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I would
like to take the opportunity of my first speech of the second
session of the 36th legislature to greet the people of
Beauharnois—Salaberry and to let them know that I intend to
continue to represent them in this House with dignity and to
behave in a manner that is fully respectful of Parliament and
its members. I reiterate my commitment to continue to serve the
public within this institution, a service which gives a deep and
sincere meaning to my political commitment.
I would also like to greet my landlady here in the federal
capital region, Mrs. Anne Allard, who has honoured me today with
her presence in the Opposition gallery.
I was not much impressed by the Speech from the Throne, and even
less impressed by the address in reply given yesterday by the
Prime Minister.
What I find objectionable in these speeches is not so much their
ceremonious nature but, rather, their pretentiousness.
There is something unhealthy about a speech in which the
government keeps repeating that Canada is the best country, that
it is the envy of the whole world and that others dream of a
country like ours. The fact is that such pretentiousness cannot
hide the insecurity that characterizes this country, that
compels it to make an abusive use of its flag and symbols to
create an identity that it is sorely lacking.
Such insecurity probably explains why the Prime Minister likes
to refer to Canada as a multicultural, postnational society,
while trying to present his government as a national government.
It is not the first such paradox from the Prime Minister. This
speech is indeed a paradox, given that a supposedly national
government is opting for a way which, for Canada, is
increasingly less respectful of federalism, an allegedly
national government that is delivering, at least as regards
Quebec, an increasingly less coherent speech.
Incidentally, is it not strange that, following the
Mont-Tremblant conference on federalism and globalization—in
which my colleagues and myself were, as can be expected, very
pleased to participate—the word “federalism” is nowhere to be
found in the throne speech, nor is the term “federation”, and
the adjective “federal” is used only four times?
By contrast, the speech refers to national will, national
strategy, national program, national child benefit, national
action plan on skills and learning, national health system,
national accord with the voluntary sector, and so on.
So, after the great federalist statements made in Mont-Tremblant,
here we have the national ambitions in Ottawa. In Mont-Tremblant,
Bloc Quebecois members were sovereignists and they still are,
here in Ottawa.
National ambitions may seem quite legitimate to Canadians who
want the federal government to take on a greater role in the
areas of family policy, education, health, or in the voluntary
sector.
1220
As far as Quebecers are concerned, the jurisdiction of the
National Assembly and of the Government of Quebec should not be
limited by such intrusions and by such ambitions, because these
ambitions become intrusions. Each successive government in
Quebec has challenged the federal government's right to invade
Quebec's areas of jurisdiction, by using its exorbitant spending
power.
In this regard, the Speech from the Throne, like the latest
budget speech, puts the framework agreement on social union at
the centre of its national strategy, an agreement that
incorporates the national will of the Liberal government.
It should no doubt be mentioned that Quebec did not sign the
agreement, because the Speech from the Throne does not mention
Quebec's opposition and treats Quebec's objection as empty.
According to the throne speech, the agreement is, and I quote `?a
commitment by governments to work together for Canadians”. It
calls for “governments to report publicly on the effectiveness
of social programs”. It also commits “governments to eliminating
barriers that unjustifiably impede the mobility of citizens
within Canada”.
But what does it matter, the framework agreement on social
union, like the Constitution Act, 1982, before it, which
Quebecers objected to and continue to do so, is to structure
Canada of tomorrow, to provide it with a national government, to
focus on health care, post-secondary education and social
services.
The Bloc Quebecois will defend the interests of Quebecers here
in the House of Commons, and will keep on reminding people that
the framework agreement on social union, just like the 1982
Constitution, was adopted without the consent of Quebec and
cannot be imposed upon it.
It will continue to demonstrate that Canada is engaged in a
process of centralization that adulterates the federal regime,
which can scarcely be described as such, since it is obvious
that what is wanted for Canada is a single national government,
one that barely tolerates the existence of another national
will, that of Quebec, which remains free to choose its destiny.
That freedom is making the Government of Canada more and more
troubled and less and less clear.
The modest place reserved for national unity, an expression
moreover that does not figure in the text of the 1999 throne
speech, only thinly disguises how much the Liberal government is
troubled by this question.
The cause of this seems to be the continuing high level of
support for sovereignty and the fact that Quebecers are keeping
all of their options open as far as their political and
constitutional future is concerned.
Moreover, it is aggravated by the fact that the commitment to an
in-depth reform of federalism cannot be respected and that no
concrete proposal for renewal has been formulated, as is clearly
evident in the throne speech and the Prime Minister's address in
reply, both of which indicate the total absence of a plan A,
which we now realize will never see the light of day.
It also explains the laconic nature of the throne speech, which
contains two very general statements, one that suggests
Quebecers do not want a third referendum, and another that
invents a new principle of clarity.
As far as this second point is concerned, the Government of
Canada, which demands clarity from others, is hiding behind a
principle of clarity that the supreme court has not ruled
constitutional so as to hide its own intentions.
It is leaving itself lots of leeway to interfere in Quebec's
referendum process. Will it resort to legislation, a motion, or
a ministerial statement? When it comes to clarity, we have seen
better.
And here is a clear message to all ministers responsible for
clarity, truth, interference and guardianship: they will have
to answer to the Bloc Quebecois, which will proclaim loud and
clear that Quebec is a sovereign nation and that, when the time
comes, it will oppose any plan designed to limit its freedom to
choose its own destiny.
1225
In conclusion, I would like to quote from Jean de La Fontaine,
who wrote in one of his fables:
Discussion is what many like.
Opinions in the court abound.
But calls to action strike great fear.
Supporters then cannot be found.
Today, the government keeps talking about Plan B in an attempt
to give it new life. The court of the Prime Minister of Canada
and his Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs is overflowing
with advisers pushing for confrontation with Quebec. If they do
not make their intentions clear, they will no longer find any
support in Quebec.
Mr. Yvan Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, BQ): Mr. Speaker, my
colleague's speech was very clear and no one asked for any
clarification on his excellent analysis of the situation.
Before dealing directly with the throne speech, I want to convey
the following message to all farming families in my riding, in
Quebec, and even in Canada: the Bloc Quebecois will not let you
down. The Bloc Quebecois will continue to demand additional
resources to fight organized crime efficiently and to eliminate
the terror that these families are subjected to year after year
by cannabis producers.
In the weeks or months to come, my colleagues from
Berthier—Montcalm and Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert will propose legal
measures to step up the fight against organized crime,
particularly with regard to cannabis producers.
We expect the government, which has a great responsibility in
this regard, to take measures based on our proposals.
That being said, I will now deal with the throne speech from a
public finance perspective. First, I want to correct two major
blunders found in the Speech from the Throne, which I am sure
are accidental, but which have left a lot of people wondering. I
am convinced these are mistakes.
The two big blunders found in various parts of the throne speech
are the references to tax reductions and to the government's
determination to fight poverty. There appears to be two
analytical and factual errors in the speech. I will take the
next few minutes to set the record straight.
First of all, I practically fell off my seat when I saw in the
throne speech that the government had reduced taxes by $16
billion over three years. At this rate, if we are to believe
the government, in about ten years' time, Canadians will not be
paying a cent in taxes.
That is what the Minister of Finance is telling us. He talked
about the cumulative tax cuts he has supposedly made over the
years and added them up. If we took this to its logical
conclusion, in ten years not a single Canadian would be paying
any personal income taxes.
It is well known that the Minister of Finance eliminates
surpluses. The truth is that he has continued to cook the
books.
A look at the most recent Department of Finance publication
shows that Quebecers and Canadians were paying $5.5 billion less
in taxes in 1993-94, before the Minister of Finance and the
Liberal government took office, than they are today.
In other words, by means of various hidden taxes, as well as tax
tables and a fiscal structure in general that are completely
unindexed, the government has increased the tax burden of
Quebecers and Canadians by $5.5 billion since 1993-94. These are
real figures.
As I mentioned, these figures can be found in any financial
publication put out by the minister's own department.
Undeniably, there have been tax cuts.
The last four years have seen a number of such cuts. Let us
look at some examples of just what sort of cuts the Minister of
Finance is offering.
Let us take the last budget. A significant measure in the last
budget was the abolition of the 3% individual surtax.
1230
And who will benefit from the elimination of the 3% surtax? It
focuses first and foremost on those with incomes of $250,000 or
higher. These are the people who have benefited from this tax
reduction, from the abolition of the 3% surtax. On average,
their tax savings this year will be $3,700.
Yet when one looks at those who have really been the ones
responsible for putting public finances on a sounder footing,
that is the middle income earners, those with annual incomes of
between $30,000 and $70,000, they have saved approximately $160
in taxes this year. They are the ones who are being strangled
by the lack of indexation and by other disguised taxes, and they
are never the ones who get any recompense for their efforts.
Yes, there have been tax cuts. But cuts for the richest people
in this country. Those who have been most responsible for
putting public finances on a sounder footing have been totally
forgotten.
We in the Bloc have done an analysis on people earning between
$30,000 and $70,000, and we have consulted Quebeckers on the
basis of that analysis. People who earn between $30,000 and
$70,000 a year are the ones most responsible for putting public
finances on a sounder footing, and yet they are the ones with
the worst balance, in terms of tax payments.
I will offer two figures to illustrate this. Families earning
between $30,000 and $70,000 in Canada constitute 27% of Canadian
taxpayers. They are responsible for about 50% of personal
income taxes that flow into the federal government's coffers.
Do you see the imbalance? These people make up a little over one
quarter of all taxpayers, but they contribute half of all the
taxes paid by individuals to Ottawa. It is for that group that
the government must do something, not for those earning $250,000
or more, which include millionaire friends of the Minister of
Finance.
It is in that category that the government should have taken
action, but did not. The fact is that, in net terms, Canadian
individuals pay $5.5 billion more in taxes than they did before
the Liberal government came to office, in 1993.
The other major blunder to which I referred earlier is the fight
against poverty. I read on page 7 of the throne speech that the
government intends to make it easier for families to break the
cycle of poverty.
I believe there is a mistake here.
I think the analyses were not presented properly and the
government will make corrections. How can you break the cycle of
poverty when you are the one that created it?
When I see what this government did with employment insurance by
excluding close to 60 per cent of those who should normally have
benefited from the program, with the result that only 42 or 43%
of unemployed people can now collect benefits, I can only
conclude that this cycle of poverty was triggered by the
government and the result is that there are now 500,000 more
children living in poverty than there were when the Liberals
came to office. I can only conclude that excluding the
unemployed from the employment insurance program, excluding
people who are experiencing hard times because they lost their
jobs has resulted in an increase in the number of people living
in poverty.
How can the cycle of poverty be broken when the government is
the author of it and is not prepared to change the employment
insurance plan.
In some instances, problems have been deliberately incorporated
in the plan. Let us take, for example, the case of pregnant
women, who must stop working because their health and the health
of their child are at stake. Because of the problems in the
plan, weeks spent on the Quebec CCST are not included in the
calculation of hours and weeks worked in order to be able to
enjoy special employment insurance benefits subsequently. This
is a serious problem. Women are therefore going to think twice
before taking precautionary time off work, thus putting their
own health and the health of their child at risk.
There are a lot of problems in the system. And why do all these
problems exist? Why are most of the unemployed excluded? In
order to bring in a surplus of between $6 billion and $7
billion. This is despicable. Especially when the government is
saying that it wants to break the cycle of poverty and then
behaves in this way. This is an acceptable.
The government also cut the Canada social transfer, much of
which goes to funding social assistance.
1235
Every year, there is $4.6 billion less in the plan than there
was in 1993. The government wants to break the cycle of
poverty, but continues to create it and nurture it.
Finally, when we look at this government, we realize that it
generates poverty. In conclusion, in examining this and having
seen what the government proposed in the throne speech, we have
no choice but to consider this government irresponsible. It is
much better at making hollow formulae than at correcting
inequality and fighting poverty with vigour.
For all these reasons, we reject this throne speech, which is
worth nothing more than the paper it is written on.
[English]
Hon. Jane Stewart (Minister of Human Resources Development,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to join the debate on
the Speech from the Throne. It really is our first opportunity
as commoners to discuss among ourselves and debate our views on
how we will see Canada in the 21st century and the new
millennium.
As a member of the government side of the House and as a
Canadian, I must say how proud I was of our Prime Minister
yesterday. He gave a tremendous speech and allowed us to
contemplate Canada today in the context of our past.
The Prime Minister reminded us that we did not discover this
land, that first nations and Inuit people were here first and
welcomed newcomers so many years ago. He reminded us of our
French heritage, of our British heritage. He allowed us to
appreciate that here in Canada out of the need to respect
diversity, we are now a country that values and celebrates
diversity; that out of a need to welcome immigrants we are now a
country that values and welcomes immigrants and provides a safe
place for refugees.
The Prime Minister allowed us to contemplate the fact that out
of a need to downplay nationalistic tendencies, we now are a
country that values quiet confidence and modesty. Out of a need
to share wealth, we in Canada now value the sharing of wealth and
generosity not only between and among citizens and between and
among regions of this great country, but between Canada and other
countries around the world.
We know that Canada out of a need to respect individual citizens
and respect the importance of each one of us as Canadians is now
a country that absolutely respects and values human rights and
freedoms.
Out of the need to govern with compassion over the turbulent but
wonderful history we call ours, we are now a country that values
governance with compassion, governance with tolerance, governance
with generosity. We indeed know that our country is a wonderful
and unique federation.
To many, Canada is an experiment, but to us, Canada is a
logical, practical and principled society and we are always
pushing at the edges of what we know to be civilization. I am
convinced that as we move into the 21st century we will continue
to do that.
Another thing the Prime Minister said is that in our federation
there is room for improvement and that indeed is true. But if we
look at the nineties, our options to continue to improve this
great country in which we live were limited. The decade of the
nineties was a time of turbulence, of difficulties for citizens
and for our country.
We know that unemployment rates were extraordinarily high. We
know that there was a lack of confidence in Canadian
institutions, including government. We know that our country's
unity was being challenged. We know that we were under very
significant fiscal constraints. But with the leadership of our
Prime Minister and with the extraordinary will of the Canadian
people we are now back in a stable form.
Unemployment is at its lowest level in nine years at 7.5%. There
is an increasing respect and confidence in Canadian institutions.
We know that we live in a great federation and we are continuing
to appreciate that and to build on that. We got our fiscal house
in order. We are governing in a balanced way. We are attacking
our debt.
1240
As Liberals we have always said that we were not interested in
making cuts for the sake of making cuts. Getting our fiscal
house in order was a challenge we set for ourselves so that we
would allow ourselves the choices to continue to improve and
build on our great federation.
On the Speech from the Throne, the Prime Minister identified in
his speech yesterday a number of areas that we set out as our
priorities as we move into the 21st century. We want to continue
to build our strong federation. I would like elaborate on a
couple of those aspects in my speech today.
First, Canadians now know that the government has put a priority
and a focus on our children. As we reflect on the work of our
country in the past decades, we know that we have found ways to
support Canadian seniors with programs like the old age security,
guaranteed income supplement and our partnership with the
provinces with the Canada pension plan. Those are programs that
Canadians know and appreciate and which seniors access. Those
programs have allowed us to significantly reduce poverty among
Canadian seniors.
We have programs in place to support working age Canadians, such
as employment insurance and the provinces have income support.
Those programs are there. Canadians are familiar with them and
use them if they have to.
Since 1993 we have understood that there is a role for us to
play in working with Canada's youth. The youth employment
strategy was introduced. We have encouraged and supported our
young people in finding that very important first job. We have
encouraged them to continue with post-secondary education. We are
finding ways as a country to support our youth.
In the Speech from the Throne we identified continuing ways to
support Canada's youth by ensuring that they have the opportunity
to travel this great nation through exchanges to get to know each
other. That is critically important in a country as large as
ours. We know that at earlier ages young people are able to
contribute and the notion of celebrating their first works is an
important priority for our government.
We have not spent a lot of time considering how we build a
strong relationship with our children. It is probably because we
believe that it is parents who really are the critical element in
ensuring that our children are supported and nurtured. There is
no question that remains paramount. It is parents who have the
responsibility and the ability to raise healthy children.
But times are changing. It is very expensive to raise children.
Yes, it is appropriate that we make tax cuts in support of
families. The Reform Party would see that as being the only
support we can provide to our children, but we know there is much
more that is needed.
Research is telling us that the very early years of a child's
life, zero to six, are critical. That research is now becoming
more and more available to us. In the Speech from the Throne we
have been directed to work together as governments, the
Government of Canada with the provinces and territories, to
explore this research, to understand it and to build some common
values and principles as to how we can support parents and
children through those very early times.
That work has already begun. We have sat at the table with the
provinces and territories. We have built a document, the
national children's agenda, which is now being discussed in
workshops around Canada. We will look for input from Canadians on
that to assess the values and principles that should guide us as
we build a stronger partnership with Canadian citizens, parents
and children to support early childhood development. We intend
to have that work completed and to present it to Canadians by
December 2000.
There is more. We know there is a direct relationship between
children at risk and the income of their families. Provinces
have supported families through income support measures and
services for children. We know that the most important thing we
can do is to find ways and means for all Canadians to have a job.
That is the biggest thing we can do.
When parents, men and women, move from welfare into a job, very
often that job may be low paying. It is difficult for parents to
contemplate leaving welfare, where services may also be part of
their support for their children, to take a low paying job. We
are changing that through the national child benefit. In this
system the federal government provides money to families with
children for income whether they are on income support or in low
wage positions.
1245
The savings that the provinces gleaned from that additional
money coming from the federal government are being reinvested in
services for Canadian children, services that are available to
them whether they are supported by families on income support or
in low income jobs.
We are making progress. In Quebec we see the $5 a day day care
approach. In Alberta we see the focus on providing health
services, dental care and eye examinations for children. These
are the kinds of approaches that show a flexible relationship
between the Government of Canada and the provinces is working.
We know it to be a good platform and we want to build on that.
In the Speech from the Throne we identified that we would make a
significant additional investment in the national child benefit
by July 2002. Of course everyone heard the Prime Minister
yesterday. He identified this as being a priority and he has
moved that date up to July 2001. That is a strong message to the
people of Canada. We know that we have to support our children.
We have to focus on child poverty and we have to focus on it in a
way that will allow parents to get work and to contribute, in
partnership with their governments.
There is another aspect to this that is tremendously important.
We are starting to really understand the changing relationship
between the workplace and the family. Seventy per cent of
Canadian families are dual income families, mom and dad both
working.
Of course that is changing the relationship between what they
are able to do as parents in support of their children. That is
where we step back and ask, recognizing that those early years
are so important, is there not something more that we can do to
help parents spend more time with their children and their
infants in those very early years? We have identified that
indeed there is. Yesterday the Prime Minister announced that by
January 1, 2001 we would double the parental benefit for Canadian
citizens. We have directly shown how important a contribution
this is to building a strong Canada through our children.
The Prime Minister said that we would double the benefit, make
it more flexible and more accessible. In terms of flexibility,
we will focus on the parental benefit. We will not tell families
which parent should stay at home. They will decide.
In terms of flexibility, we also appreciate that there are
adoptive parents and that they too need to be home with their
children in those early years.
In terms of accessibility, we will know that we have made
changes to the employment insurance program. Wisely, we have put
in place a monitoring and assessment system so that every year we
receive information about how that system is working.
We are seeing in last year's monitoring and assessment report
that indeed there may be an unintended effect on women. In the
way that women relate to the workplace, they may not be accessing
benefits in the way we expected them to do. I am looking forward
to receiving this year's monitoring and assessment report to
contemplate that trend, to see if indeed we have to do something
to ensure there is accessibility.
I know that colleagues on this side of the House have begun to
talk about it with me—the member for Essex, the member for
Guelph—Wellington and others—and we will look at this.
As the Prime Minister indicated, we want to ensure that there is
accessibility to this incredible and significant new plan that
was announced yesterday.
With all this and a focus on children we are recognizing that it
is wise for us to invest in the early years. Right now there is
a cost to us in supporting prisons and youth justice systems
because our children may not be getting a healthy start. For us
it makes a lot more sense to put the investment in the early
years. If we focus on our children the dividends will be huge.
Out of a need to invest in our children I am convinced that we
will come to value children as our most valuable resource.
In the context of valuing people, let us turn to another aspect
of the Speech from the Throne. We know that our economy has
changed. We are in the knowledge based economy now. The
challenge for us as a country is to ensure that our citizens have
the ability to participate in the knowledge based economy, to be
able to continue to develop and benefit from a vastly and rapidly
changing economy. We will do that.
1250
First and foremost we have to ensure that we build a tradition
of lifelong learning in Canada. In the Speech from the Throne we
identified that that will be a priority for us, to work with our
partners, with the private sector and with the provinces to do
what we can to make sure that from our very early years right
through to our senior years we value and engage in lifelong
learning. That means improving literacy, without question. We
have a dynamic partnership with the provinces right across this
country in focusing on upgrading the literacy of our citizens.
We have also built strong partnerships with the provinces in the
area of labour market development. The provinces now have active
measures within the agreements that we have written with most
provinces and they are using them to facilitate and stimulate the
capacity development of their citizens so they can participate in
the new Canadian economy.
We need to do more. We need to appreciate that our economy is
not a single economy, but is sectoral. There are different
aspects and sectors to the diverse Canadian economy. We need to
partner more effectively with the private sector and with unions
to understand that, to encourage them to look at their
industries, to look at the timeframes, to help smooth out the
peaks and valleys, to identify their workforce requirements. We
can do a better job in this regard. In fact, by doing so, instead
of following the trends in the economy, we can lead the trends in
the economy.
Another thing that is tremendously important is making sure that
Canadians have the information they need to make decisions about
employment opportunities and business opportunities. There was a
recent forum for labour market ministers, attended by all
provinces and territories, including Quebec, to talk about this.
We agreed that it is wise for us to work together to create a
platform of information that can be used locally at the community
level, at the provincial level, at the national level and at the
international level so that Canadians have the information they
need to make the appropriate decisions for their lives and the
lives of their families.
There is a third aspect in all of this that I would like to
reflect upon as my time draws to an end and that is how we should
build public policies in the 21st century. Without question, we
have to reach out and engage others at the very beginning of the
development of policies. We have to work with the private sector
and with the voluntary sector. We cannot abrogate our
responsibility to lead and to make important decisions, but we
can find a modern way, a 21st century way, of building
sustainable policies and programs that speak to all Canadians.
This is a fundamental issue. In the 21st century what we want
to do is challenge ourselves to write policies that are
inclusive, policies that do not inadvertently exclude people:
Canadians with disabilities, aboriginal people, those from low
income families. That is not the way to build appropriate
responses to the needs of Canadians. Rather, from the very first
instance we want to contemplate policies that speak to all
Canadians, policies in which all Canadians can see themselves
right from the start.
These are the challenges that we have set for ourselves. They
are a reflection of our belief that we live in a wonderful
country, that we have built a flexible federation, that we have
something to work for, something to be proud of and something to
build upon.
The Speech from the Throne, as it was presented, gives us all
these opportunities. I, as a member of this side of the House
and a great team, am committed to doing what I can to continue to
build a great Canada, to build a Canada which is where people
want to be in the 21st century, to build a Canada that we know
will continue to be the greatest country in the world in which to
live.
Mr. Myron Thompson (Wild Rose, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
having known this minister now for quite some time I realize that
there is a lot of care and a lot of compassion in her heart. I
can understand that. We have talked a lot over the years about
the squalid conditions on reserves, the poverty that exists. The
conditions, by the way, are not getting any better; they are
getting worse in many cases.
I have continued to visit these reserves on a regular basis,
right up until the time we returned to the House this month.
Apparently nothing the government has done over the last six
years has improved the conditions. They continually get worse
and there are more and more problems.
1255
It has also been brought to my attention that in 1993 members of
the House said that we had to do something about the one million
children living in poverty. Today it was reported that poverty
has increased by 66%. That means we no longer have one million
in poverty, we now have 1,600,000.
It was also reported this morning that for every one million
children who go to school, 166,000 of them go hungry.
These are the problems that exist. They are worse today than
they were in 1993 when the government took office. What has the
government in mind to deal with these problems? Programs
designed for the year 2001 are not going to make a lot of people
happy. What is it going to do tomorrow to alleviate these
problems? What measures is it going to take to eliminate these
serious problems? Instead of all the fluffy talk, where is the
meat? Where is the action? I want to see it.
Hon. Jane Stewart: Mr. Speaker, I welcome the question.
Indeed, the issue of child poverty is an issue that the
government takes very seriously. That is why we have already
invested $1.7 billion extra per year in the national child
benefit. It is that benefit that goes to children in low income
families. It is that benefit that allows provinces to reinvest
their savings in services for these children in the kinds of
projects that the hon. member references, food, child support and
all those sorts of things.
That is why, recognizing this as being a priority, in the Speech
from the Throne it was announced that we are going to invest
another significant amount in the child benefit.
Despite all this, I bet that side of the House will vote against
these measures.
[Translation]
Mr. Paul Crête (Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques,
BQ): Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, the minister said that, in
Canada, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting
poorer. This was what she told La Presse about two weeks ago.
We were looking forward to some sort of corrective action in the
throne speech.
Today, 40% of elderly women living on their own are living below
the poverty level. Our old age pension system leaves 40% of
elderly women living below the poverty level, and the throne
speech offered no solution.
Then there is EI, for which 40% of unemployed workers qualify.
We showed in great detail how this was unacceptable, but the
throne speech is silent on the topic.
Today, all Canada's resource regions are facing terrible
situations. We argued for a full year against the intensity
rule for seasonal workers, among others. In resource regions,
80% of workers are affected by this rule. After 20 weeks,
benefits drop to 50%, after 40 weeks, to 53%, and after 100
weeks, to 50%. All our seasonal workers have reached that
point.
I would have expected the new Minister of Human Resources
Development to have won out over her more hardhearted Cabinet
colleagues, but it seems not.
She stated that having a job is the best way to improve one's
lot. That is true, but one must have a decent income. A good
example of this can be found in the United States. The
unemployment level is 4%, but a lot of people are worse off now
than before even if they are working.
Here in Canada we have the same situation developing, because we
wanted to have an employment insurance system similar to the
Americans'. More and more people have work, the unemployment
rate is dropping, but the bottom line is that overall family
incomes have dropped. This is not an incentive to work, but a
disincentive. It tells people “Even if you work, you will not
qualify, or if you do qualify, we will not give you enough weeks
of benefits”. This is a direct incentive to drop out of the
system and to get paid under the table, and I expected that
issue to be raised in the speech.
I will conclude with the matter of parental leave.
If I have understood the minister correctly, she is going to
wait for the third year report evaluating the employment
insurance program before deciding whether she is going to make
eligibility conditions easier for women. If she does indeed
wait for the third year, I have just realized why the program
would come into effect only in 2001. This means we will have
another year of the program we criticized back in March 1999,
when we asked her predecessor a question which prompted the
answer “because there are fewer people being born, a lower birth
rate, so there are no problems with maternity benefits”. We
have proof that, despite a 4.6% drop in the birth rate, there
were 7.4% fewer recipients. There was also a 7% drop in the
amount paid out.
1300
Cannot the minister commit today to stating that the rules for
eligibility, which have nothing to do with extending the length
of parental leave, could very easily take effect now?
[English]
Hon. Jane Stewart: Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member looks
at the Speech from the Throne and the commitments of the Prime
Minister to double parental benefits, he will see that
significant changes to the employment insurance system have been
announced. Everything that he speaks about suggests that he will
indeed support us in terms of the Speech from the Throne and the
measures we introduced.
As the economy has changed and increased, one thing that has
become clear is that poverty has been stopped this time around.
Usually as the economy increases poverty returns. It ebbs.
However this time it has not and that is why at this juncture in
our history we must stand back and take stock. We must remember
that governments have a role to play in supporting their citizens
and in developing programs and policies that do not create have
and have nots.
If he looks at the items itemized in the Speech from the Throne
and listened to the speech of the Prime Minister yesterday and
the speeches from this side of the House over the course of this
debate, the hon. member will see that we understand the role we
must play in ensuring that we do not create have and have nots in
Canada. One of the best ways of doing it is to focus on our
children, and we are committed to doing that.
[Translation]
Mr. André Harvey (Chicoutimi, PC): Mr. Speaker, I think all of
us here want the federation to work, we want the sharing of
powers between the provinces and the federal government to work
properly.
The problem is that everyone wants to be excessively visible.
The provinces, like the federal government, want to be
excessively visible, with the result that there are new programs
that lack clarity, both at the provincial and federal levels.
For instance, there is currently no issue more serious than
health in our country. Who would have thought that, one day,
Canadians would have to travel to the United States to get
medical treatment? I am convinced that the Canadian government,
whose role is to ensure compliance with the Canada Health Act,
did not amend that act—at least I did not see anything to that
effect—to provide that Canadians will have to get medical
treatment in the United States.
I want to ask the minister if she thinks—after cutting $17
billion in the social transfers to the provinces for health,
education and help for the poor—that the government can do its
utmost to ensure that people can get medical treatment in our
country. Especially in Quebec, there are very serious problems
in the hospitals' emergency services and some people have no
choice but to get medical treatment outside Canada.
In addition to the internal problems that we are faced with
because of a lack of funding, the cuts made to transfer payments
have been drastic. This is true for every sector, but I am
asking the minister if there is any hope for the health sector.
[English]
Hon. Jane Stewart: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is
specifically asking the Government of Canada to focus on the
issue of health care. I remind him that indeed we have. Some
$11.5 billion were announced in the last budget to continue to
support delivery of health services by the provinces.
That is the kind of partnership we in Canada believe in. That
is the kind of flexible federation we know works and that is the
approach we are committed to continuing.
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker,
I would like to begin by announcing that I will be splitting my
20 minutes with the hon. member for Vancouver East.
In the limited time I have available I would like to make a few
comments on the Speech from the Throne and the state we find the
government in. It is hard to pick a metaphor. Many metaphors
come to mind. One thinks of the metaphor of a deer caught in the
headlights. One thinks of the metaphor of an absentee landlord.
One thinks of the metaphor of Nero fiddling while Rome burns.
There is a long list of things for which the government stands
condemned for a failure to act in a timely fashion, or in many
cases a failure to act at all.
I will just go down the list, but I do not have the time to go
into all of them in the detail that I would like.
The first one that comes to mind is the crisis in agriculture in
the country and the fact that producers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba
and many other places are facing an income crisis the like of
which they have never experienced before. Yet we see a
government unwilling to act, pathetically trying to cram
solutions to this unique crisis into programs that were developed
for much less severe circumstances. The government stands
condemned in terms of its inaction with respect to agriculture.
1305
We have a crisis in the airline industry in the country, and
what do we hear from the Prime Minister? We hear the Prime
Minister say it is a private matter. I cannot imagine that even
10 years ago, and particularly 15 or 20 years ago, the Prime
Minister of Canada would have said that the future of the
Canadian airline industry—Air Canada, Canadian Airlines and the
structure of the Canadian air transportation system—was a
private matter. Yet that is the kind of thing the Prime Minister
has said.
We have a government that has stood idly by without taking the
kind of action which might ensure that not only jobs and
consumers are protected but that Canadian control is protected
and we do not end up in a situation in the country like we now
have with the railways where basically we are owned and
controlled by American shareholders.
On water exports, we have various provincial projects going
ahead. The Gisborne Lake project in Newfoundland has received
tentative forms of approval. Instead of acting on a motion
passed by the House of Commons back in February which called for
a national ban on the export of bulk water, we have nothing
except the ball being thrown back and forth between various
provincial capitals and this government. There has been no
action yet to ban bulk water exports and no promise of such
legislation in the throne speech, not a mention of it.
When it comes to the fishery on the east coast and the judgment
of the supreme court with respect to the treaty rights of
aboriginal people in that area, we have a government which
appears to have been totally unable to have anticipated what that
judgment might be or to have anticipated difference scenarios so
that if the judgment came down in favour of treaty rights, as did
happen, then it would have some plan in place. This is just
elementary. Yet it is almost as if the Liberals were caught
completely by surprise and almost as if they did not even know
the supreme court was considering it.
This has been complicated. It arose in the first place because
of an unwillingness on the part of the government to act on the
recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples
which said that these things should be negotiated and not left to
the courts. Were they negotiated? Was there action taken?
Nothing. Now we have an horrendous crisis on the east coast as a
result of that inaction.
On homelessness, winter is coming. Perhaps the Liberals do not
know this. Perhaps so many of them go on winter holidays that
they do not know that winter is coming and it gets cold in
Canada. We have thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of people
who are homeless. Yet did we see any commitment to real money and
real action in the throne speech with respect to homelessness? We
have a minister of housing but we do not have a minister who is
willing to do anything about homelessness, or about housing for
that matter.
We have the crisis in the west coast with respect to the abuse
of our refugee system and all the questions that raises. Have we
seen any action yet that would maintain the integrity of our
refugee system while at the same time attack and address the fact
that this system is being abused? No. I do not know what the
government is waiting for, and no one else seems to know.
We have had for a long time now promises of legislation to deal
with new reproductive technologies and all the tremendous
choices, options and I would say potential evils and dangers that
lurk in that array of technologies. Did we have any mention of
this in the throne speech? Is there any intention on the part of
the government to deal with this? Silence. Is that all we get
from the throne speech? The feeling is that if we could just
hook everyone up to the Internet and send a few kids on an
exchange program here and there everything will be terrific. It
will not be. We have to address these issues and more.
1310
On child poverty, soon it will be the 10th anniversary of the
motion introduced by the hon. member from Oshawa, my former
leader Ed Broadbent, and passed in the House. Ten years will
have passed. Will child poverty have been dealt with?
The list goes on and on. People know as a result of court
decisions that our child pornography laws are inadequate. We can
have a debate about how we should respond to that, whether we
should use the notwithstanding clause, appeal the decision or
whether we should bring the law back to parliament and write a
better law if the law is inadequate. Let us write a law that
deals with that situation. Do we have such a law before us? Do
we have even the promise of such a law before us? Not a hint,
not a sniff of action on any of these fronts.
It is worth asking why there is this powerlessness, this
impotence and this complete silence with respect to so many
issues. If we look we will see that the underlying reality of
all this is the way in which over the past 10 or 15 years,
sometimes for good and well intentioned reasons and other times
for less well intentioned reasons, this place, both parliament
and government, has abdicated its responsibility in many ways to
first the marketplace and in some other ways to the courts. The
government reflects the powerlessness it has chosen by repeatedly
signing agreements or adopting policies that make it incapable of
dealing with a lot of the situations that we have before us.
Why in part do we have the crisis in agriculture? Because this
government and governments before it have deliberately stripped
the Canadian farmer of all the support systems that used to
exist. Why? Because we wanted to be the international Boy
Scouts of the marketplace, with all due respect to the Boy Scouts
because they sometimes get maligned by being associated with the
government.
The fact is the government has stripped Canadian farmers of the
support systems they used to have. This started with the
elimination of the Crow rate and went right on down. Then they
say there is a crisis in agriculture. No wonder. Other
countries have not left their producers abandoned to the
marketplace in the way our country has. There it is, abandoned
to the marketplace and to the judgments of the World Trade
Organization and various other trade agreements.
On airlines, what we have before us is the result of
deregulation and privatization. I can remember when deregulation
and privatization first came in. Oh what a wonderful world it
was to be with competition, healthy Canadian airlines competing
with each other. It was to be a capitalist Nirvana.
At that time we said that what is happening today would happen.
We are sorry to be right but the fact is that we were right. What
we predicted at that time is now happening. Now we see a
government so addicted to the bromides of the marketplace, to the
idea that this is a private matter and who would want to
interfere in the marketplace, that we stand on the brink of
having our airline industry completely taken over by American
interests.
The list goes on. We cannot deal with water exports because of
NAFTA. We cannot deal with poverty or homelessness because that
would involve interfering in the marketplace. What do we have to
do for homeless people? Build them houses, for God's sake. That
is what they need, but there is no market for the kind of houses
poor people can afford.
We would have to do that with government money. We would have
to do that outside the marketplace. What a heinous thing. What
a blasphemous thing that would be because that is outside the
political conversation now. That is outside the ideological
universe, or rather prison, the government and parliament live
in. It is about time they saw Canadians have had enough of this
self-inflicted powerlessness. They want the government to do
something. If that means getting out of agreements, intervening
in the marketplace and acting like governments used to act, then
it is high time it did that.
Mr. Dennis J. Mills (Broadview—Greenwood, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I have had the privilege of listening to the member for
Winnipeg—Transcona for a number of years. Philosophically there
are a number of issues we are compatible on, but he was not
putting out factually correct information on four specific issues
related to my community in downtown Toronto.
1315
The first point is on the issue of homelessness. City
councillor Jack Layton is having a heyday capitalizing on those
500 to 700 people who are living on the streets of Toronto which
none of us like to see. The reality is that the issue is
affordable shelter. Yesterday the Prime Minister spoke very
specifically about an infrastructure program. I think the member
and I know the people of my community will be quite satisfied in
the very near future as the whole issue of affordable shelter
will be central to the infrastructure plan which is unfolding.
The second issue is that of banning exports of water. The
Minister of the Environment even before we had recessed for the
summer break took very specific measures in the announcement
banning exports of water. That is something the member obviously
missed.
Another issue relates to the children's legacy. I do not think
anyone in the House would deny the fact that the Prime Minister's
remarks in the House last night went a long way toward moving the
commitment to children forward. I think it is important that the
member when he is criticizing also acknowledge some of the very
specific initiatives that were taken.
Finally on the Onex deal where I have very strong views myself,
we had assurances yesterday from the Minister of Transport, which
I am sure the member read in the paper, that on the issue of air
transportation in this country we will have a full and vigorous
debate in the House. Every member will have an opportunity to
put his or her views forward and will be accountable.
It is important when we are having this debate that we at least
acknowledge those areas where the government has acted
immediately.
Mr. Bill Blaikie: Mr. Speaker, the member says the Prime
Minister talked about affordable shelter. Big deal. The
government has been talking about affordable shelter for years
now. We want to see affordable shelters, real objective things
that people can live in and people can find shelter in. We do not
want more fancy speeches from the member, the Prime Minister or
anyone else when it comes to homelessness. We want real action.
My complaint is that there has been no real action.
With respect to water, it is not Wayne's world. That is not the
hon. member's name but perhaps it is some other world he lives
in. No one else in the whole country is aware that there has
been a national ban on bulk water exports except the hon. member
for Broadview—Greenwood. That is some constituency he comes
from; maybe there is a bubble around it. There has been no
national ban on bulk water exports. To suggest that there has
been flies in the face of reality. Talk to Premier Tobin in
Newfoundland. Ask him if there has been a national ban on bulk
water exports. He is calling for the federal government to
either institute one or give him the freedom to act provincially,
one way or the other.
With respect to the children's legacy, I am not sure what the
hon. member was talking about but the fact is that when it comes
to child poverty, it is a lot worse. When it comes to the
wonderful, tremendous increase in maternity benefits that the
minister for human resources was bragging about not so long ago,
it is not going to happen until January 1, 2001. Good luck if a
woman is pregnant now or is going to get pregnant in the next
year. It does not increase her eligibility. All kinds of women
who may be expecting between now and then still, even if they get
pregnant in 2002, will not be eligible because the eligibility
will not have changed.
With respect to Onex, we are going to have a vigorous debate and
then we will get screwed. I have seen enough vigorous debates
around here to know that they are meaningless unless there are
real options on the table and a real commitment by the government
because in the end the government will get its way. It will have
the sham of a vigorous debate. It might even let a few Liberal
backbenchers stand up and say they do not like what is going on
to help the Liberals get re-elected in places like Winnipeg.
Winnipeg is one of the places that stands to really get it in the
ear if this thing goes through. We will have a nice vigorous
debate and then we will have our airline industry taken over by
the United States. Some comfort.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am
almost loath to interrupt the wonderful, enlightened flow of
consciousness from the member for Winnipeg—Transcona.
He has really hit the nail on the head in addressing the issues
in the throne speech that concern us. I am very happy he has
agreed to share his time with me so I can provide some feedback
from my perspective and the perspective of our party with regard
to the throne speech.
1320
I listened earlier to the new Minister of Human Resources
Development. We hope to see some significant improvements to EI
and the national children's agenda.
Hearing the minister's comments about living in a wonderful
country with such tolerance and compassion conjures up the image
of Liberals looking up at the blue sky with the clouds rolling
by. I think of my own community of East Vancouver which is
predominantly a low income community and what people are really
facing. I have to say that what I heard in the throne speech,
what I heard from the Prime Minister, what I have heard from the
new Minister of Human Resources Development in no way comes close
to dealing with the realities of what many people in Canada are
facing.
Many times we have heard the Prime Minister say how proud he is
that Canada has been rated by the United Nations as the number
one country in the world in which to live. But let it also be
said that the same United Nations has condemned Canada for its
failure to live up to international covenants, for its failure to
deal with homelessness, to deal with equity and equality, to deal
with the growing gap between people who are getting wealthier and
people who are getting poorer.
When I listened to the throne speech I wanted to hear on behalf
of my constituents some clear realistic objectives and
commitments that would see a government prepared to bring in a
national children's agenda, to bring in program and income
supports that would reverse this downward spiral, this race to
the bottom that we are in. Apparently the government does not
care about this. I was disappointed by what I heard.
I have received feedback from people in my riding, people who
are really hard pressed, parents who are working at more than one
job, part time jobs, struggling to find child care with their
kids on waiting lists. These people are being threatened because
their housing is going to be demolished or 30%, 40%, 50% or in
some cases 60% of their income is going toward rent. These are
the families I deal with. I know that not just in East Vancouver
but in other communities hundreds of thousands of Canadians are
facing this reality.
I listened to the Leader of the Opposition and his response to
the throne speech and his view of Canada. He has such a narrow
definition of what a family is or what a family needs. I look to
my own community to see the diversity of single parents who are
struggling to make a go of it. They may be on income assistance
or working in a low wage job in a service sector and do not have
enough money to pay their rent or feed their kids. I heard the
Leader of the Opposition with his anti-government message that if
we just put a few pennies in our pockets through a tax saving,
somehow we will have solutions. We can see that the Reform Party
is bankrupt in its ideas in terms of addressing the substantive
issues in our society.
When we look at the messages in the throne speech and the
unfolding of the so-called national children's agenda we have to
question why a national children's agenda exists but there is no
child care program. Why does a national children's agenda exist
but there is no commitment that the poorest of the poor will have
the benefit of the national child tax benefit? Why do we have a
national children's agenda that supposedly speaks to the
well-being of early childhood development and the well-being of
Canadian families but it does not contain any substance to
develop affordable housing, the most basic human right for all
Canadian families and all people?
We have to be very clear. We cannot accept that a children's
agenda will exist without a national child care strategy. For
decades numerous groups in this country have advocated for the
adoption of an early childhood development program, a national
child care program.
When we compare the government's commitments today with what was
in the red book in 1993, it seems to me that we are moving
further and further away from any kind of program the government
is committed to, to actually make child care a reality.
1325
In 1993 the Liberal Party promised 150,000 child care spaces.
Where are they? Six years have gone by. Where are those child
care spaces? Why are there tens of thousands of kids on waiting
lists to get into child care? Less than 10% of kids who need
child care have access to the regulated spaces.
The Liberal government has failed on that score. Its national
children's agenda is not worth anything more than the paper it is
written on unless there is a substantive financial commitment by
the government to work with the provinces to produce those child
care spaces.
We have some very good models and examples to look at in terms
of what has been developed in the province of Quebec. Why are we
not sitting down with the province of Quebec? Why are we not
sitting down with the other provinces to make those child care
spaces a reality?
I will touch on the issue of housing and homelessness. It is
ironic that in the throne speech more time was devoted to the
issue of endangered species than there was to the issue of people
who are dying on our streets because of homelessness, or people
who are living in totally inadequate housing.
It is simply appalling that we have had a minister responsible
for homelessness who has yet to produce a single unit of housing.
It is appalling that in the throne speech there was not one
specific commitment to say that the federal government will
produce a national housing strategy.
I have a motion that is coming before the House which calls on
the government to commit 1% of the federal budget to housing.
Where is that commitment from the other side of the House? Where
are the specifics? Where are the housing units that need to be
developed?
When it comes to other members of society like students, again
in the throne speech we heard platitudes and very lofty ideas
about access to the Internet and the knowledge based economy. But
what about the students who are trying to get through school?
What about the students who are suffering from a massive debt
load? Has the Liberal government addressed that issue? Not one
line in the throne speech has shown any understanding of the very
harsh realities facing students who are trying to get through
school.
We were hoping to see a commitment to a national grants program,
to a tuition freeze and to a recognition that post-secondary
education should be accessible to all young people. That would
be a real commitment to building our future, but instead we saw
again the lofty ideas and the clouds passing by in the sky in
terms of the Liberals' ideas of what the future is. It is a
future that leaves behind young people. It is a future that
leaves behind poor people. It is a future that has abandoned the
commitment to end child poverty by the year 2000. It is a future
that apparently has left women off the list.
Yes, we have had some announcement about parental leave but what
about the eligibility requirements? What are parents meant to do
after that one year of leave? Where will the child care spaces
be so that they can return to work?
After examining the throne speech and seeing exactly what is and
is not there, then I would agree with my colleague for
Winnipeg—Transcona that it is empty and vacuous. It is from a
government that has failed to address the real priorities of
Canadians. It is something that we will continue to take up in
the House.
Mr. Janko Peric (Cambridge, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, some 33
years ago I was a newcomer to this country. When I was growing
up in Croatia I was poor. I came from a large family. I know
what poverty is.
Listening to the speech today by the hon. member for Vancouver
East I am a little confused. I do not know what country she is
talking about, Canada or some other country.
1330
This summer I had the opportunity to visit our RCMP officers in
Sarajevo where I was taken to different parts of Bosnia and
Hercegovina. That is where poverty is, not in Canada. I am
really surprised to hear the bashing of the Liberal government
that it does not care about children and youth in Canada.
I have four children. I did not expect any level of government
to take care of them. I did not ask the government to provide me
with early childhood benefits or whatnot. I had children with my
wife because we wanted a family. We were and still are
responsible parents.
No one can deny that there are children who deserve and need
support from governments. Of course there are. However, it is
not at the level that the hon. member for Vancouver East was
saying. The hon. member should not portray Canada as the worst
place to live when she knows, as well as many of us in the House,
that there are millions of people who would rather live here than
in their own country.
An immigration officer asked me how come he brought refugees to
this country a year ago and today they are putting down payments
on their homes. They are working and they are responsible new
members of our society.
In the future, could the hon. member go across the country and
see for herself how great the country really is?
Ms. Libby Davies: Mr. Speaker, I guess it is a matter of
perspective of where we live and what our daily reality is as to
whether or not this is a wonderful country. Do not take it from
me. I encourage the hon. member to read reports from
organizations appointed by the government, such as the National
Council on Welfare and the reports from the United Nations that
have clearly condemned the Canadian government for its failure to
address the abysmal conditions that aboriginal people live in.
I have gone to reserves. I have gone to Metis communities. I
have seen houses where people had no running water or no toilet.
I do not think those people believe that they live in a wonderful
country. They would like to have the same opportunities that
maybe the member has had.
When he says he did not expect the government to care for his
children, I do not think any parent expects the government to
care for his or her children. What Canadian families want to see
are the kinds of community supports, programs and services, such
as an early childhood development program and a national child
care program, that will assist families in coping in what is
increasingly a very difficult environment.
I am frankly surprised to hear the member suggest that somehow
we should not being doing that. To deny the reality that there
are millions of Canadians who live below the poverty line, as
described by Stats Canada, is simply to not deal with the truth
of what goes on in our country. Yes, there are people who are
doing incredibly well and do not need any help whatsoever.
However, there are very major issues of income distribution and
of how wealth is distributed.
If the member wants, I will take him to my riding and show him
what happens when we leave people at the bottom, when we leave
society to market forces and when the Liberal Party listens to
the business elites and not to the real crowds. I will show him
the evidence and the consequences of what that means on the
streets. There are people without shelter and without adequate
support. There are kids who are going hungry in school. The
evidence is there and it is in every community in the country.
1335
Mr. Julian Reed (Halton, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is an
honour to rise to address the throne speech and review briefly
the six years of effort that have been put in by the government
to bring our economy and the state of the country to where they
are right now.
I was particularly moved by the words of the hon. member for
Cambridge who speaks from his heart about Canada and who, because
of his life experience, is able to compare Canada with his
country of origin. That says more about Canada today than any of
the most eloquent speeches that could be made in the House.
I was very interested that the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal
Opposition went on television after the throne speech and
suggested that there were no specifics in the throne speech and
therefore it was not acceptable. I do not know how long one has
to be in parliament or how much one has to understand the
parliamentary process to realize that the throne speech is not a
speech of specifics. Throne speeches are never speeches of
specifics. They are always speeches of vision. The specifics
come afterward. The Prime Minister, in his response to the
Speech from the Throne yesterday, began to put the specifics in
place, but it was only the beginning. The next stage will be
when the official budget comes out and that is due process. I
hope that the hon. Leader of the Opposition over time and after
gaining experience will realize that there are stages we go
through.
It has been six years that I have had the honour of serving in
the House. I can recall coming here with a brand new government
and having to deal with a national debt that had gone out of
control and with a deficit that surprised us all when it came out
at $42 billion that particular year, and how extraordinary
efforts had to be made to reverse the process to try to bring the
deficit to a point where it might some day be eliminated.
We have now entered our third year of surplus budgeting and the
deficit has been eliminated. That did not happen by accident or
by magic. It happened with a very concerted effort and with the
co-operation of Canadians from coast to coast. Through the
wisdom of our Minister of Finance, it also happened probably in
the least painful way it could have.
I must digress for a minute, Mr. Speaker, to advise you that I
beg to share my time with the hon. member for Vancouver Quadra. I
regret that I forgot to do so at the beginning of my speech.
It is six years later and where are we today? As the Prime
Minister said, it is the first time in 50 years I believe that we
have sustained a balanced budget or a budget that contains some
surplus. We have been able to begin work on paying down the
debt. We have made a commitment to never again allow the
finances of the country to get into the state they were when we
inherited them six years ago.
Personally, it has been a very challenging and satisfying time
for me and I have been honoured to be here over this period.
Now we are in a new phase. It has been suggested that it is
more difficult to govern with a surplus than it is with a deficit
because once a surplus is seen then the demands come on to do
certain things.
1340
We have made a choice on this side of the House which is to
share the surplus by increasing the financial strength of the
country and, at the same time, restoring those social efforts
that have been a hallmark of Canada over the years. We will
continue in that direction. It will not be sudden, but it will
be measured and it will be responsible.
Tax reduction will be part of the strategy because it will put
more money into consumers' pockets. Debt reduction will be part
of the strategy because that allows for more tax reduction. The
maintenance of a strong economy is essential if we are to move
ahead with the restoration of those things which are very
important to us, such as health care which is at the top of the
agenda at the moment in people's minds in this country, and
rightly so.
The preservation of a universal health care system has proven to
be the best system that we could possibly devise. With all of
its warts and all of its weaknesses, it is still the best system.
If we compare it first to the American system and see 40 million
souls, greater than the whole population of Canada, without
health care, or when we talk to some U.S. doctors, which I have
had the pleasure of doing, and find out what it costs them to
operate their health care system, we realize that we have never
had it so good and that Canada has got something here. Yes, it
may be flawed, yes, it may be incomplete and yes, it needs
improving, but it is there.
I would remind those who would destroy our health care system of
a very personal story about my mother who contracted pneumonia in
1941 and spent 14 weeks in the hospital, in the days before
antibiotics I might add. My father spent the rest of his life
paying off that debt. I suppose that is why I am considered to
the right of centre in the Liberal caucus to a certain extent.
However, I must tell the House that the health care system is
paramount in the country. If we lost everything else, the health
care system is a system we must maintain and continually improve.
Where are we going in the future? We have an economy that is
sustaining a surplus budget. We have a bottom line that is
stronger than it has been in many years which has enabled us to
move on. That is why we consider a children's agenda, for
instance, to be of paramount importance. If we understand that
early childhood development is a key to a successful life, then
we in government must understand that whatever we can do to
support that is positive to the future.
I was also very impressed with our commitment to research and
development. There will be 2,000 new chairs in universities to
create centres of excellence which will allow Canada to express
its brain power to an even greater extent than it does at the
present time.
As my friend from Cambridge said, Canada is the best country in
the world. If anybody does not believe it, I suggest they go
anywhere else.
Mr. Grant McNally (Dewdney—Alouette, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, that was quite an interesting speech. I would like to
highlight a couple of points my hon. colleague made.
1345
He said “We have done this” and “We have done that”. “We
have balanced the budget. We have reduced the deficit”. I
would remind him that it is the hardworking Canadian taxpayers
who have done that work, not he himself or his government. It is
the taxes that have been wrung out of individuals, to the tune of
$6 billion from people making $20,000 a year or less, that have
balanced the budget and reduced the deficit, not the Liberal
government.
The member also mentioned that Liberals are the defenders of
health care. They are the slashers and burners of health care.
They have cut over $21 billion from health care and social
services since 1993 and have reinvested, their code word for
spending, $11.5 billion. That is $8.5 billion less in funding
than when they took over in 1993. How can this member boast of
his government's accomplishments when it has slashed and burned
the health care system that he says he is defending? How can he
do that?
Mr. Julian Reed: Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member
must have missed what I said. I did point out that every
Canadian participated in the recovery of this country. I would
like to point out to him that if those steps had not been taken
in 1993 we would not be at the position we are at now. Certain
measures had to be taken to get rid of the deficit, to start to
pay down the debt and to make the economy buoyant again. It was
not painless. I can assure my hon. friend, who will probably
never experience this, that hard decisions are hard decisions.
However, they have been made and they work.
Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I would
like to highlight something that was not mentioned in the
member's presentation or in the throne speech and that is that
there was very little about agriculture and what help needs to be
given to that area.
What was mentioned in the throne speech were two things that
could very much threaten agriculture and add more burden to our
farmers. One was to implement the Kyoto protocol, the proposed
carbon tax and the increased input costs that would result for
farmers. The other was endangered species protection
legislation, something everybody believes we should have, but the
approach the new environment minister has taken is a heavy handed
approach that will not work and does not include the co-operation
of all people.
I would like the member to comment on those two aspects that
could seriously further harm the agriculture sector in this
country.
Mr. Julian Reed: Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out
to the hon. member that the steps that have been taken by this
government are helping the Kyoto protocol and agriculture at the
same time. Maybe the hon. member does not know that since the
biomass-derived ethanol program has been put into place nearly
$500,000 of private investment has taken place across Canada, and
farmers produce the feedstock for that ethanol production.
Mr. John Nunziata (York South—Weston, Ind.): Mr.
Speaker, in the 15 years that I have had the privilege to sit in
the House of Commons I have listened to a few throne speeches and
it seems to me that what we ought to be considering is putting an
end to throne speeches. I question the value of speeches from
the throne. I know it is part of the Canadian tradition, but
expectations are high. People expect everything to be put into a
throne speech, that the government is to outline in great detail
its plans for the future. In reality, most Canadians are
completely tuned out to this whole debate because they realize it
is laced with partisanship.
I would like to ask the hon. member whether he believes that
throne speeches are of any real value to Canadians from coast to
coast.
Would he not agree that instead of beginning a new session of
parliament with a throne speech that it would be far more
advisable to begin a new session of parliament with a budget so
that there would be a specific plan on the table in which
Canadians could engage in a real debate about the future of
Canada?
1350
Mr. Julian Reed: Mr. Speaker, that is a very interesting
proposition. However, I would like to point out, and I am sure
my hon. friend would agree, that when the legislative process
starts it has to start with something, the vision. The purpose
of the throne speech, traditionally, has been to present that
overall vision to the House and to the people of Canada. Our
system of government is a constitutional monarchy, so we have a
speech from the throne and everyone knows in which direction the
government wants to go.
If we had started without that there would be no vision. We
have been accused from time to time of having no vision at all.
I would like the hon. member to remember what it would be like if
we did have some vision.
Mr. Ted McWhinney (Vancouver Quadra, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
I understand the impatience of some hon. members with antique
customs. The speech from the throne is a remnant of the 17th
century constitutional struggles, down to that knocking on the
door by an official to demand that the commons come to the lords
and hear the speech from the throne. Antique customs are
preserved, and you know this very well, Mr. Speaker. You sit in
that very uncomfortable chair which you have inherited from many
generations of people overgrown on roast beef and port wine and
various other things.
Let us face it, there are traditions. The value of the speech
from the throne today is simply that it gives a larger vision of
a governmental program that necessarily will be computized when
we have those financial figures, when we know how much of a
surplus there is and the battle over the distribution of it can
be carried down to the details.
This could be upset, but it is generally agreed that if there is
a surplus, and we think there will be a very considerable
surplus, as a result, as hon. members might say on this side, of
government policies, it will be split at a principle of 50% for
tax reductions and amortization of the external debt, and 50% for
social programs.
This is something that my constituents have strongly favoured.
They have also asked that tax reductions extend to the working
middle class who are very capable of creating the jobs, more
perhaps than any other section of the community. That is
something I will be working on for my constituents. I think it
is a necessary part of our program of creating jobs.
The Speech from the Throne outlined the three main areas of our
policies on the government side as we go into the new century.
One is, as I say, the work on tax reduction and the amortization
of the debt. The second is spending on health and social
programs. The third, and I will say a few more words on this, is
the investment in knowledge as the key to the next century.
My first assignment as a member when I was elected was to get
$167.5 million from the finance minister, who had just inherited
in 1993 a $42.8 billion budget deficit. How does one make the
argument? I had to go to the rounds of my colleagues and
ministers and explain that there was a thing called pure
research, that it did not necessarily bring results tomorrow, but
five or ten years down the line it opened jobs and industry.
Pure knowledge can be translated concretely into factories, into
production and into the creation of skilled jobs. We won that
particular battle.
It was easier to do it than in relation to some of the things we
are doing now because, of course, education, research in a strict
sense, on old fashioned constitutional views, is outside federal
power. However, once we made the case and demonstrated that the
federal government would provide the leadership, I think we were
on our way. We were very tired of giving money to provinces for
education and research and finding it being used to build
highways into the never never land that had no ending and no
beginning.
1355
Education is our investment in the future. I take great pride
in the achievements, in the centres for excellence, in the
centres for innovation and in the culmination of scholarships for
the 21st century. Of the professorships there will be 1,200
immediately and 2,000 afterward.
The actual idea was put forward by the president of the
University of British Columbia and by the recteur de l'Université
de Montréal. The idea was “arrest the brain drain”. In
certain areas like biochemistry, particle physics, pharmacology,
and I could go on, we lead North America. We have world
standards, but we run the risk of losing our best and our
brightest. These two university presidents put forward the idea
of linking this to the centres for innovation that would be
presided over by the former president of the University of
British Columbia, Dr. Strangway.
This is the idea. Look at the rave headlines from around the
country with the president of the University of British Columbia
saying it is the answer to the drift in science; it makes us
world leaders in science. I see the president of the University
of Toronto saying that it is clearly a magnificent blow in favour
of science, in favour of research and a recognition of the fact
that knowledge is the key to the next century and it is the key
to creating jobs, creating skilled jobs for young Canadians. We
are very proud of this.
I would pay tribute to caucus, my own and those of opposition
parties. I did an informal poll in the last parliament and found
that 50 MPs had colleges or universities in their constituencies
and 18 or 20 had been professors or teachers. That is a powerful
lobby and a group that has brought this emphasis on knowledge, on
the investment in knowledge as the key to the new century.
The Speech from the Throne covers many things. I have
highlighted the quest for knowledge and the investment in
learning as the key to the next century. There are several other
matters that I will touch on very briefly, such as hands across
the border. I had a letter today from American Senator
Voinovich. We are moving more and more to removing that barrier
with the United States, those irritating delays in customs and
elsewhere for Canadian citizens. This in spite of some pressures
put on us in terms of problems in controlling our own entry to
Canada from elsewhere. The movement is there. It is part of the
Speech from the Throne. It is part of the exchanges between the
Prime Minister and President Clinton.
We have built on the record in the difficult area of reconciling
our tradition as a country that receives people who want a better
life. There are the boat people we have taken in the past. There
are the Vietnamese admitted by a decision of a Conservative
government. That community is one of the best communities in
terms of low rates of unemployment and investment in new job
creation.
I look at the Ismailis who came here in 1971 under Prime
Minister Trudeau, and the people who came from Cyprus when it
broke up. We have a commitment to receiving people who have the
talent and the will to make a better life.
There are aspects here that are in terms of our international
obligations. There is nothing inhibiting the Canadian government
under international law from applying appropriate controls to our
immigration for speeding up the process of determination of
refugee claimants. These are in part touched on in the Speech
from the Throne. They will be fleshed out in concrete
legislation. I ask all members to address that in the future.
The Speaker: As it is 2 o'clock, we will now proceed to
Statements by Members.
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS
[English]
CHANCELLOR ROBERT S. K. WELCH
Mr. Walt Lastewka (St. Catharines, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it
is a pleasure to congratulate the chancellor of Brock University
on a very special honour. On Saturday, October 16, the Faculty
of Education building will be named after the chancellor, Robert
S. K. Welch, in recognition of his contribution to Brock
University. Chancellor Welch has a long history of public
service and deep roots in the Niagara community.
1400
From his first years on the St. Catharines Board of Education,
Chancellor Welch rose in provincial politics to head the
education ministry and later to the position of deputy premier of
Ontario. His many years of service were acknowledged when he was
appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 1994.
The naming of the faculty of education building is a way for
Brock to honour a man who has given so much of his time and
energy to the institution over the many years.
I join with students, faculty and friends to honour the
important work of Robert Welch and the dedication he has shown
for education in Niagara and in Ontario.
The Speaker: I very rarely add anything to statements
made by members, but I know Mr. Welch and it is an honour well
deserved. He is one of the truly great people of that part of
the country.
* * *
AGRICULTURE
Mr. Rick Casson (Lethbridge, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, we
support that as well.
This week, as most Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving Day,
Canadian farmers had little to celebrate. Devastated by
conditions beyond their control, farmers have been hit by the
worst farm income crisis in recent memory and they have been
abandoned by this government.
This year thanksgiving did not make it to the farm. What did
make it to the farm were record high input costs, record low
commodity prices, increasing U.S. protectionism resulting in
unjust tariffs against Canadian producers, bankruptcies that are
erasing the next generation of family farms, and misguided and
inadequate Liberal government contracts.
It is time to reform aid programs to deliver assistance to
farmers in need. It is time to give farmers the freedom to
market their products as they choose. It is time for a
government that will stand up for the farmers at the
international trade table.
Canadian farmers need help and they need it now. Farmers, and
indeed all Canadians, need and deserve a government that will
stand up for them and not this timid, tired government they have
now.
* * *
HAZARDOUS WASTE
Hon. Charles Caccia (Davenport, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, over
the past five years hazardous waste imports from the United
States into Ontario have nearly tripled. Such imports include
explosive chemicals, solvents, arsenic, mercury, benzene and
other substances that can pose a threat to public health and the
environment.
Regulations in Ontario are such that United States companies
find it cheaper to ship their hazardous waste to Ontario rather
than dispose of it at home.
The federal government has signed the Basel convention and
therefore has a responsibility for the safe disposal of hazardous
waste coming across the border. Therefore I urge the Government
of Canada to exercise its authority under the Canadian
Environmental Protection Act and set strict conditions on the
imports of hazardous waste into Canada so as to ensure an
environmentally safe disposal.
* * *
THE LATE ROSS HALL
Mr. Tony Valeri (Stoney Creek, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is
with regret that I rise to inform the House of the passing of
Ross Hall, a talented leader who died October 11 at West Lincoln
Memorial Hospital in Grimsby.
Ross was a member of the Ontario legislature for the riding of
Lincoln from 1975 to 1981 and chairman of the provincial caucus,
mayor of Grimsby, and a Niagara councillor from 1982 to 1988. He
was an active and dedicated leader of the community. He was a
member of Trinity United Church, the finance chairman of both
West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Grimsby and District High
School Board, as well as a member and vice-chairman of the Board
of Trustees of Brock University.
He led by example and treated all with a sense of respect and
understanding. His character was best described by his daughter,
Trish Hall, when she said she will carry always the important
lesson and advice her father once gave her: maintain your
friendships; call your friends.
Our community has truly lost a model citizen. He will be
missed. I ask hon. colleagues to please join with me in offering
our sympathy to Ross' wife Alison and his family at this very
difficult time.
* * *
THE LATE WILLIAM KAYE LAMB
Mr. Paul Forseth (New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby,
Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I want to commemorate the passing of
William Kaye Lamb, librarian extraordinaire, who organized our
nation's history as founder of the National Library of Canada.
Born on May 11, 1904 in New Westminster, British Columbia, he
died August 24, 1999 in Vancouver at 95 years. He was an author
and taught history at UBC. In 1934 he was appointed B.C.
provincial archivist and in 1940 became UBC chief librarian.
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1948 appointed him
dominion archivist. Lamb then created the National Library and
drafted the National Library Act of 1952.
He proposed Canada's National Library and Archives which opened
in 1967. Before retiring from the National Library in 1969, he
oversaw the first computerized library catalogue in the country.
1405
In his last days, a chief joy was sending out his trademark
typewritten memos to fellow scholars. Though work took him all
over the world, a piece of him will always be in Ottawa. He will
be remembered as a British Columbian who was a great builder of
Canada.
* * *
AUTO PACT
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker,
yesterday the World Trade Organization issued an interim ruling
ordering Canada to scrap the auto pact, the latest casualty of
the Liberal government's liberalization at any cost trade policy.
The auto pact is a model of fair managed trade providing auto
manufacturers with duty free access to Canadian markets on the
condition that they make significant investments in Canadian jobs
and communities.
The auto pact has played a key role in the creation of family
supporting jobs in the manufacturing sector. Auto companies
working within the rules of the auto pact employ eight times as
many workers in Canada as those who do not.
The Liberals say they care about the auto pact but it was these
same Liberals who negotiated the rules which the WTO is now using
to kill the auto pact. It was these same Liberals who assured
Canadians that the auto pact would be safeguarded.
It is incumbent on the Liberals now to find a way to uphold the
principles of the auto pact and support Canadian jobs. It must
appeal the WTO ruling, rethink its uncritical and simplistic
commitment to free trade, and failing all this, develop
equivalent policies that reward auto manufacturers for investing
in Canadian jobs and communities.
* * *
ARTS AND CULTURE
Ms. Aileen Carroll (Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I am very pleased that Canadian culture figures so
prominently in the Speech from the Throne.
[Translation]
The throne speech set out a global strategy to build a better
quality of life for all Canadians and to implement policies that
make a difference in the lives of individual Canadians.
Writers, singers, actors, filmmakers and artists breathe life
into our culture while others record our history and protect our
cultural heritage.
[English]
This reaffirms the government's commitment to culture, linking
1,000 institutions across the country to form a virtual museum,
putting collections on line, increasing support for the production
of Canadian stories and images in print, theatre, music and
video.
* * *
[Translation]
JEAN-LOUIS MILLETTE
Mr. Pierre de Savoye (Portneuf, BQ): Mr. Speaker, last week,
Quebec lost one of its greatest artists, actor Jean-Louis
Millette, who had raised his art to the heights of intensity.
Everything Jean-Louis Millette undertook grew to significant
proportions reflecting his talent.
He approached each work with integrity, generosity and humanity.
Humble and simple, he served the author, charmed the public, and
was respected by his colleagues. His talent universally
acclaimed, he moved us in the theatre, on television and in
film.
The emotion he left us will survive him. The emotion he shared
with children, through his Paillasson character, is forever in
our hearts.
While an actor's work is essentially ephemeral, Jean-Louis
Millette's interpretations remain.
We thank you, Jean-Louis Millette, for all the joy you brought
us.
* * *
[English]
OKTOBERFEST
Mrs. Karen Redman (Kitchener Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
during this past weekend Kitchener—Waterloo welcomed thousands
of visitors from across the continent to kick off the 31st annual
Oktoberfest celebrations.
In fact members of this House came to Kitchener to join in the
great German tradition. This nine day festival is the largest
Bavarian celebration in North America with the greatest
Thanksgiving Day parade in Canada.
Oktoberfest has become an important cultural event for our
nation. It symbolizes what it is like to live in a multicultural
nation.
Through the celebration of this spirit of gemütlichkeit
the local economy is stimulated and $18 million is raised
annually with $1.8 million going directly to local charities.
I congratulate the over 400 volunteers who make Oktoberfest such
a great success each year. In particular I recognize the hard
work of Oktoberfest president Auggie Sherban. He should be
commended for his outstanding commitment and dedication to this
important cultural event.
* * *
CHILDREN
Mr. Paul Bonwick (Simcoe—Grey, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we
have had an opportunity to reflect on the throne speech with
great excitement. The Liberal government has clearly outlined a
vision of which all of Canada can be proud. In short, our vision
and focus is our children.
Imagine the legacy. We will ensure an increase in the quality of
life for our children.
1410
Sadly, not everyone agrees with this vision of investing in our
children. For reasons which I suspect are for political gain,
the leader of the Reform Party suggests this is nothing more than
fluff, no real substance, I think he said. Let me inform the
leader of the Reform Party that my children are not mere fluff.
They do have substance and they do require a government with a
vision and a conscience. Sadly the leader of the Reform Party
lacks both. We can only assume his comments will continue to be
damaging to himself and to our children.
On behalf of the children all across the country, I say thank
you to the Liberal Prime Minister for having a vision. That
vision is that children are our number one priority.
* * *
ROBERT MUNDELL
Mr. Monte Solberg (Medicine Hat, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
three years ago Reform's finance critic at the time, Herb Grubel,
told me that the best primer on economics was a book called
Man and Economics by Robert Mundell. Believe it or not, I
checked all the major bookstores in Canada and could not find it.
Finally by a happy coincidence I found Mr. Mundell's book in the
discard bin in the public library in the little town where I
live. And yes it is a wonderful lucid book.
Robert Mundell was a man in advance of his age. He was a
prophet without honour in his own country until yesterday.
Yesterday Robert Mundell, born in Kingston, Ontario and raised in
the interior of B.C., was awarded the Nobel prize for economics.
Today governments around the world are applying his supply side
tax cut ideas and their economies are booming and providing their
citizens with jobs and prosperity, including right here in
Ontario.
On behalf of the official opposition, we extend hearty
congratulations to Canada's Robert Mundell.
Finally I would like to offer a copy of the book to the finance
minister, as long as he will read it and give it back to me.
* * *
[Translation]
COMMUNITY CARE WORKER WEEK
Mr. Yvon Charbonneau (Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, it is my pleasure to remind the House and all Canadians
that the week of October 11 to 17 is Community Care Worker Week.
The professionals, paraprofessionals and volunteers who provide
health care in the community are an integral part of our health
care system. They are the front line workers providing home
care, long term institutional care, meal distribution services
and community support programs.
[English]
To acknowledge the invaluable contribution workers make to the
health of Canadians, the Canadian Association for Community Care
together with Lifeline Systems Canada has initiated the Community
Care Worker Award which is presented every year during Community
Care Worker Week.
[Translation]
I invite you to join me in thanking community care workers
throughout Canada for their contribution to the health of
Canadians.
* * *
WORLD DAY FOR THE REFUSAL OF MISERY
Mrs. Christiane Gagnon (Québec, BQ): Mr. Speaker, October 17 has
been proclaimed World Day for the refusal of misery by the
United Nations. The theme of that day, which is dedicated to the
victims of poverty, is “Children want a world that is fair to
everyone. With them, let us refuse misery”.
This day will stress the exclusion and isolation experienced on
a daily basis by an increasing number of women, men and
children, while also urging us to take a hard look at our way of
doing things, so as to eliminate this wall of shame for our
society.
Beyond any statistical consideration, poverty means being
excluded from any form of full participation as a citizen; it
means that one cannot participate in the benefits of economic
growth and it also suppresses the fundamental right to work.
Poverty means the outright withdrawal of freedom of speech for
those who are affected by it.
Tackling poverty is an enormous challenge. We must do so with
determination, with our heads high, and we must not be afraid of
telling things as they are, while being receptive to those who
live in poverty.
* * *
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT
Ms. Marlene Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, as we begin this new session, let us take a look at the
parties in the House of Commons.
The Reformers are squabbling among themselves; the Conservatives
are trying to find themselves; the New Democrats are slowly
disintegrating. As for the Bloquistes, they have yet to find a
reason to exist except, perhaps, their pensions, unlike the
Liberal government, which knows exactly where it is headed.
The Liberals are governing according to the priorities of
Canadians, so as to provide them with a better economic, social
and political future.
Congratulations to the Liberal government.
* * *
[English]
FISHERIES
Mr. Charlie Power (St. John's West, PC): Mr. Speaker,
since the supreme court ruling on the hunting and fishing rights
of native Canadians, a crisis has grown in the lobster fishery on
the east coast.
1415
This is just the first manifestation of a serious problem that
lies ahead for all regions of Canada from Newfoundland and
Labrador to British Columbia. If a reasonable, fair and lasting
agreement between native and non-native fishers cannot be
achieved, further conflicts are a certainty and the potential for
more violence remains very high.
Parliament must act immediately to demonstrate the leadership
that the federal government has failed to provide. I urgently
request the agreement of all parties to facilitate the immediate
reinstatement of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.
The committee should immediately go first to New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia where tensions are tearing traditionally peaceful
communities apart along racial lines. Let us hear directly from
those involved, accept the responsibility entrusted to us and
seek to establish a constructive environment for agreement. We
all want a peaceful solution.
The PC Party of Canada is prepared to take this action. I call
on all my caucus colleagues and all members of the House to join
us in—
The Speaker: The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
* * *
WILLIAM HEAD INSTITUTION
Mr. Gary Lunn (Saanich—Gulf Islands, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
convicted wife killer, Patrick Lees, has just begun his sentence
at William Head prison in Victoria. Inmates refer to William
Head as Club Fed. Why? The inmates reside in condominiums, no
steel bars, no locks on the doors, many of the bedrooms have TVs
and VCRs and each condo has its own living room, dining room and
kitchen. Let us not forget its waterfront location equipped with
golf course, fishing pier and much more.
Spousal abuse is a huge problem in our society. Patrick Lees
violently murdered his wife, left two young children without a
mom and now we see this wife killer sent to Club Fed. There is a
place in the system for institutions where inmates must learn to
care for themselves. However, prisoners must earn the right to
transfer to these institutions.
I am working on a private member's bill where an inmate would
not be eligible for this type of institution until they have
completed at least 50% of their time. I urge all members to work
with me to change the system.
* * *
PRESENCE IN GALLERY
The Speaker: Colleagues, I am going to change things
just a little bit for today. I want to draw to your attention
the presence in the gallery of Her Excellency Libuse Benesova,
President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, and her
parliamentary delegation.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear.
ORAL QUESTION PERIOD
[English]
FISHERIES
Mr. Preston Manning (Leader of the Opposition, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, the government's ad hoc plan for restoring peace to the
east coast fishery came apart yesterday, just hours after the
fisheries minister assured us everything was under control. Thus
far the minister's strategy has done nothing but increase
tensions in the east coast fishery and the potential for
violence.
Thirty years ago when the Prime Minister was minister of Indian
affairs he professed to believe that assigning rights to
different people based on their race would only lead to further
discrimination, recrimination and the kinds of violence that we
see now in New Brunswick.
Why has the prime minister and his government abandoned that
position?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I said in the House of Commons that treaties were signed
by the government of the day, by Her Majesty the Queen of England
at that time.
We have an obligation to respect the treaty that was entered
into by previous governments, particularly with the natives.
These agreements were signed. The supreme court passed a
judgment and we have to respect that within the confines of the
judgment that gave collective rights. We have the right to
impose measures to maintain the conservation that is needed so
that stocks can be there for years to come.
Mr. Preston Manning (Leader of the Opposition, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, no one is saying that the aboriginal people do not have
rights but the non-aboriginal people also have rights. They have
rights granted by the government under its constitutional power
to manage the fishery. What the supreme court should have been
doing in the Marshall case is balancing these rights not just
affirming one side.
Why does the Prime Minister not take control of this situation,
ask the supreme court to stay its decision and return to a
fisheries policy that is based on equality under the law and
conservation not race?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, the treaties were signed with the natives of the day. It
is an obligation of the government and of the nation to respect
the obligation that we have taken with them.
1420
There was a judgment by the supreme court that said that it is a
collective right that has to be managed within the need for
conservation. This is exactly what the Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans is working on at this moment.
Mr. Preston Manning (Leader of the Opposition, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, the Prime Minister is not listening to what is being
said.
No one is denying the fact of aboriginal rights. However, the
government, under its constitutional authority for the fishery,
has also granted rights to others to fish. That is what a
fishing licence is. What we are looking for is some leadership
from the government in balancing these rights.
I ask the Prime Minister again, why does he not ask the supreme
court for a stay of this judgment and why does he not come up
with a fishery policy that recognizes equality under the law not
special entitlement simply based on race?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, these rights have been confirmed by the court. The
Leader of the Opposition takes pleasure in saying that he
respects the rights but does not want the judgment implemented.
That is like having your cake and eating it at the same time.
Some licences have been granted for a long time, but this
judgment adds new fishermen to the business. This has to be
worked out in conjunction with those who were there before and
those who have new authority from the supreme court to use their
fishing rights. We have to get the two parties together.
To have your cake and eat it all the time like the leader—
The Speaker: The hon. member for Delta—South Richmond.
Mr. John Cummins (Delta—South Richmond, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, the purpose of asking for a stay of judgment is to ask
the court to clarify its decision.
The month long window to petition the court to stay this
decision and clarify it is up in three days. So far the Minister
of Fisheries and Oceans and the Prime Minister have opted to
allow chaos and violence to determine the course of events.
Is the Prime Minister now so comfortable with a race based
fisheries policy that he will not even ask the supreme court to
clarify its decision?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, every time there is a conclusion by the courts that the
natives of Canada were here before, they always refer to it as a
racist situation. They were here before we were. The king of
the day told the settlers who were coming to Canada to make
treaties with them. It is our obligation to respect the words of
Her Majesty the Queen of those days.
Mr. John Cummins (Delta—South Richmond, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, let me give the Prime Minister examples.
It is unclear what the supreme court means by a modest living or
whether non-status natives will enjoy this preferential right to
fish that is allowed by the Marshall decision.
Flawed as it is, this decision needs clarification to establish
the place of non-aboriginal fishermen in this fishery, fishermen
whose families have been fishing these waters for 200 and 300
years.
Why is the government refusing to return court for clarification
of this irresponsible and unrealistic decision?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, the judgment has been rendered. We have to live with
the judgment. We are obliged to respect judgments. We can ask
for a stay to gain some time to plan a proper regime. However,
whenever some rights are recognized for the first people of the
land, the Reform Party always attacks them as racist. It is
absolutely not Canadian.
* * *
1425
[Translation]
GM PLANT IN BOISBRIAND
Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, BQ): Mr. Speaker,
yesterday, the Minister of Industry called Quebec Minister
Landry irresponsible for putting forward a plan to save the only
automobile plant in Quebec, the GM plant in Boisbriand and, with
it, thousands of jobs in the region, when there are 14 such
plants in Ontario.
How can the minister make such statements? And when he does, is
he not behaving more like Ontario's Minister of Industry than
the federal Minister of Industry?
Hon. John Manley (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it
is interesting that the Bloc Quebecois is so in favour of an
offer for a company such as this, which has made phenomenal
profits.
In Montreal, La Presse asked the question of the day, that is:
“Quebec is prepared to put up $360 million to save GM in
Boisbriand. Do you think it should?” And 19% said yes, while
81% said no.
Mr. Gilles Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie, BQ): Mr. Speaker, that
is not much of an answer. It does show, however, that the
Liberals are well organized when it comes to contacting La
Presse.
This morning, I spoke to Luc Desnoyers, Quebec's delegate to the
CAW. I also spoke with the president of the union at the GM
plant in Boisbriand. Both said that the minister was dragging
his feet, that he had done nothing for the cause, and that he
was doing nothing to defend Quebec's workers.
I ask the Prime Minister, who talks to us about collaboration,
partnership and understanding, how he can stand by and watch his
minister do absolutely nothing to help save the Boisbriand
plant. It is a disgrace.
Hon. John Manley (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it
is not true that we are not doing anything.
In fact, it was the Government of Canada that first sat down
with the Boisbriand workers. We were the ones who funded the
project to put together a presentation for GM officials. We
were the ones who carried the case forward with the GM officials
in Detroit. I personally arranged a meeting with the president
of GM in the United States, in Detroit, and invited Premier
Bouchard to attend, just as Mr. Harris had gone to Seattle a few
months ago to talk with Boeing.
Mr. Bouchard sent Mr. Landry. Together, we discussed the future
of the Boisbriand project with GMr.
Mr. Michel Gauthier (Roberval, BQ): Mr. Speaker, we learned from
this morning's La Presse that the automotive manufacturers are
being offered some extremely attractive incentives to stay in
the U.S. or to develop new plants there.
We learned also that
Bernard Landry has made an interesting proposal as part of the
efforts being made on the North American continent to save the
Montreal plant.
Does the Minister of Industry seriously think he is going to be
believed when he says he has done everything to save GM, when he
has in fact stood back with his arms crossed, to all intents and
purposes, for some time?
Hon. John Manley (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, does
the hon. member seriously think that offering a lot of money
before any demands are even made is a good negotiating approach?
Mr. Michel Gauthier (Roberval, BQ): Mr. Speaker, like the rest
of Canada, Quebec has to compete internationally, and we need to
be proactive when it comes to saving jobs.
Bernard Landry was proactive. He sought a way of saving the
plant. It would be nice to be able to say the same of the
minister.
I would like to ask the following question: why is he so hot to
set up a lottery to save hockey clubs in Ontario, while the
situation in Quebec is of no importance? We just have to wait.
Hon. John Manley (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
that is absolutely false, because we, the Government of Canada,
are the ones who tried to help GM find solutions for Boisbriand.
He does not understand that the problem is not a financial one.
It is not a problem that could be solved with a donation from
the taxpayers to a highly profitable company. It is a matter of
finding a model, a future for a project.
Why has GM invested money in Ontario without getting any federal
funds, as have other automobile manufacturers? Why?
* * *
1430
[English]
AGRICULTURE
Ms. Alexa McDonough (Halifax, NDP): Mr. Speaker, my
question is for the Prime Minister. The federal government's
response to the farm income crisis has been a disaster. For
Saskatchewan and Manitoba farmers AIDA has been a disaster. Less
than half of those needing help qualify, and for those who do the
payments are too low.
Most provincial ministers of agriculture are in Ottawa today.
Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to admit that AIDA
has been a disaster and announce a plan that will work for
prairie farmers?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I met with the ministers of agriculture
from two western provinces today. I reminded them of the money
that has been put into the AIDA program.
I remind the hon. member and the House that for Saskatchewan
alone, for example, the AIDA program has already put over $70
million into Saskatchewan. NISA withdrawals are $110 million. We
made changes to crop insurance. We made changes to the NISA
program. We made changes to the AIDA program and we continue to
look for all the resources we possibly can.
Ms. Alexa McDonough (Halifax, NDP): Mr. Speaker, first
the Prime Minister refused to visit the flooded farm communities.
Then his throne speech was silent on the farm crisis. Now the
Prime Minister ducks the question.
What is the Prime Minister's message to prairie farmers? Is it
why should I care about your farm crisis? I think we heard that
from a previous Liberal prime minister as well.
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I am following the situation very closely. I talked
with the premiers of Manitoba and Saskatchewan many times.
However, it is a problem that is being dealt with very
effectively at this time by the minister of agriculture, who has
the authority to speak on behalf of the government. That is why
we are working with the ministers. It is the crisis that is a
problem.
We put money in last year, $900 million. That is still
available for farmers to meet this crisis. Long before the
leader of the party was aware of the problem money was already on
the table to solve the crisis.
* * *
FISHERIES
Mrs. Elsie Wayne (Saint John, PC): Mr. Speaker, yesterday
the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stated in the House “We
have a solution in place and we have a plan”. He was referring
to the fishery. While he was saying that, the aboriginal leaders
were meeting in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Last night when I informed the minister that the chiefs had
decided to shut down the moratorium, he stated that he had not
been contacted by the chiefs.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Given that the chiefs
have now stated that they have no trust in the minister of
fisheries, will the Prime Minister personally accept
responsibility for this situation and step in immediately to
resolve it?
Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal (Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is important to look at the
facts. The moratorium was on a voluntary basis by the chiefs.
What has happened now is they have said that they will leave it
up to the individual chiefs.
I talked to Chief Sark today from Lennox Island and he said he
would continue with the moratorium. It is left up to the
individual chiefs to decide on their own. We have a plan for the
short term and the long term. It is working and I will continue
with it.
Mrs. Elsie Wayne (Saint John, PC): Mr. Speaker, last
week when the minister of fisheries went to Halifax to try to
negotiate a settlement for the crisis in the fishery, the
minister could not get an agreement. In fact the agreement came
from the chiefs themselves.
Today, because of the actions of the minister's department, the
voluntary moratorium which restored peace to our communities back
east has now collapsed. Native leaders now say they simply
cannot trust the minister, and that was their quote.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister
understand that the number one barrier to a negotiated solution
to this issue is his own minister?
I am begging the Prime Minister to step into this situation and
deal with it.
1435
Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal (Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, we should make sure we understand
the facts. I was in Atlantic Canada. I met with the commercial
fishermen. I met with the aboriginal community. I met with the
processors. I was there to listen to them, to make sure we had a
dialogue.
As a result of the discussions the chiefs decided on their own
that they wanted to have a voluntary moratorium. It is always
hard to get 35 chiefs to agree to a unanimous decision. They
have decided now that they will leave it up to individual chiefs.
Some chiefs will continue with it. In fact the vast majority of
chiefs will not be fishing; they will be continuing on the
moratorium.
* * *
AGRICULTURE
Mr. Howard Hilstrom (Selkirk—Interlake, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, with all the agriculture minister says that he has done
for farmers, why are thousands of dirt poor farmers still getting
nothing, no cash?
To date the government has done nothing to address the crisis in
any serious way. AIDA does not work and there is no replacement
in sight. Families are losing their farms right now, not
tomorrow, and the government sits idly by. Why is the Prime
Minister allowing our farmers to head into winter with no hope
and no cash?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I find these comments very interesting,
coming from an hon. member who stood in the public a year ago and
said farmers should stop their crying.
The government knew that farmers needed help. We have put $900
million there. We have made changes to the net income
stabilization program that enabled the withdrawal of more than
$120 million in that program. We have made changes to the crop
insurance program and all those things. We are continuing to
look at it, work with the industry and work with the safety net
advisory committee. We are not the party. They are the party
that was going to take $640 million—
The Speaker: The hon. member for Selkirk—Interlake.
Mr. Howard Hilstrom (Selkirk—Interlake, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, the agriculture minister is a liar. I did not say—
Some hon. members: Withdraw, withdraw.
The Speaker: I ask the hon. member to please withdraw
that statement.
Mr. Howard Hilstrom: Yes. I recognize, Mr. Speaker, that
is not an appropriate statement.
* * *
[Translation]
GM PLANT IN BOISBRIAND
Mr. Pierre Brien (Témiscamingue, BQ): Mr. Speaker, whatever the
Minister of Industry may say or do, he is not helping matters
with his attitude and his remarks.
My question is for the Minister of Industry. Given his
attitude, are we not totally justified in asking whether he does
not intend to sacrifice the Boisbriand plant in favour of plants
in Ontario, his home province?
Hon. John Manley (Minister of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, that
question is totally strange, because, as I said, we worked with
GM to save jobs at Boisbriand. In fact, another car model needs
to be found for manufacture at Boisbriand.
I told him that significant investments have been made in the
Canadian automobile industry in the past five or six years.
There has never been a need for the federal government to invest
because we are very competitive.
At Boisbriand, the employees are top quality and highly trained
and could compete with—
The Speaker: The member for Témiscamingue.
Mr. Pierre Brien (Témiscamingue, BQ): Mr. Speaker, in its
throne speech, the government mentions partnership a lot. We
did not think there would be an example so soon. I would like
the Prime Minister to say whether he does not consider the
example and the attitude of his minister with regard Boisbriand
do not reveal the essence of the word partnership. Is that what
partnership means?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I
think the minister has handled this matter very well. As he
explained earlier, he even organized and invited the authorities
in Quebec to meet the president of GM in the States to make sure
that, once the model they are currently making in Boisbriand
disappears in a few years, the company will develop a new model.
1440
He did a very good job, but, as he has said, the problem right
now is that major changes are being made in the whole of the GM
organization throughout North America, and Boisbriand is in
competition with the others. Investments have been made in
Canada, and at no time in the automobile industry in recent
years have we—
The Speaker: The hon. leader of the Reform Party.
* * *
[English]
AGRICULTURE
Mr. Preston Manning (Leader of the Opposition, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, the government's response to the western farm crisis is
an absolute insult to western Canada. The realized net income
for all farmers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan collectively will be
down by 98% for the four year average. Does the Prime Minister
understand that 98% means down from $916 million a year to $16
million?
The government's response to date has been pathetic: an aid
program that does not work, an income stabilization program that
does not work, and no high level attack on the European subsidies
which are at the root of the problem.
When will the Prime Minister take some personal interest and
show some personal leadership—
The Speaker: The Right Hon. Prime Minister.
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, it is amazing to see the Leader of the Opposition
getting up when I read page 42 of the Reform program, the Reform
taxpayers budget which calls for $640 million to be saved by
downsizing the department of agriculture. It further calls for
$690 million to be saved by cutting all regional sector specific
funding to the department of agriculture.
That is what they say to gain votes. Now that we have put money
on the table they just flip-flop completely and want us to spend
money when—
The Speaker: Order, please. I would ask both the
questioners and those who answer to please keep their questions
within 35 seconds.
Mr. Preston Manning (Leader of the Opposition, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, the Prime Minister should have kept on reading from that
statement because the next sentences talked about Reform's
proposal for a trade distortion program that would have solved
this problem.
Incidentally the member who proposed that program is now just
about five seats away from becoming the premier of Saskatchewan.
This is not just about statistics. This is not a statistical
problem. It is families that are suffering not just the loss of
their livelihoods but their farms—
The Speaker: If the Prime Minister wants to address
himself to the preamble, I would invite him to do so.
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I will reply in 90 seconds and not in 90 minutes. Before
the last budget the government put $900 million on the table and
the provinces put $600 million directed toward this problem.
Why does the Reform Party complain all the time when we spend
money? Now he wants to cut money and have a new program. He
cannot have it that way.
* * *
[Translation]
AIR TRANSPORTATION
Mr. Michel Guimond
(Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île-d'Orléans, BQ): Mr. Speaker,
in the Onex issue, the Minister of Transport is now prepared,
after having suspended application of the Competition Act and
after having refused to let the transport committee sit during
the summer, to set aside the 10% ownership rule.
Is the strange behaviour of the minister in this matter dictated
by the cozy relationship that exists between Onex and his
government?
[English]
Hon. David M. Collenette (Minister of Transport, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, it became quite evident over
the last few months that Canadian Airlines was in trouble. It
either needed a cash injection from the government, in other
words a bailout, or we had to let it slide into insolvency or we
had to find another way to solve the problem.
We invoked section 47 which allows us to find market driven
solutions but which also allows the government and parliament to
pronounce upon any agreement that comes forward with shareholders
and to set conditions in the public interest. I have enunciated
five principles. I said them yesterday and I could say them
again, but the government will do what is in the best interest of
Canadians.
1445
[Translation]
Mr. Michel Guimond
(Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île-d'Orléans, BQ): Mr. Speaker,
the president of Onex, Mr. Schwartz, also said that the delays
imposed by the Competition Bureau would, in his opinion, be too
long.
Can the minister tell us whether or not, and regardless of the
opinion of the president of Onex, this transaction will be
reviewed by the Competition Bureau?
[English]
Hon. David M. Collenette (Minister of Transport, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, under section 47, which we use, the Competition
Bureau is engaged. In fact it is giving us advice on
restructuring and that advice will be made available within the
next couple of weeks and certainly will be made public.
The fact is that the Competition Bureau's role is one that has
been underlined. It is still there and it will still be involved
in any consideration.
As to any specific agreement, I do not believe that it is my
role to talk about any proposal that is now before the
shareholders of a private company. When that company decides,
when the shareholders decide, then the government will act in the
public interest.
* * *
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Miss Deborah Grey (Edmonton North, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
Claude Gauthier, owner of Transelec, donated $10,000 to the Prime
Minister's campaign after winning a CIDA contract. He then
bought a $500,000 piece of land from a company in which the Prime
Minister has a financial interest and the bidding for that was,
shall we say, suspicious.
It turns out that Transelec is not quite doing the job and the
government has been worried about being on the hook ever since.
Why is the Prime Minister putting his political interest ahead
of the public interest?
Hon. Maria Minna (Minister for International Cooperation,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, first, CIDA does not hold the contract
with Transelec. The contract is held between the government
of the African Republic of Mali and Transelec.
Second, CIDA funds the project and pays the bills according to
the Mali government, as they are submitted.
Third, this company's bid was 30% lower than the next lowest
bid.
The project will be finished in the near future and it will be
done at no additional cost.
Miss Deborah Grey (Edmonton North, Ref.): What a steal
of a deal, Mr. Speaker. That is great comfort.
Let me paint a clearer picture for the Prime Minister himself.
Perhaps I could join the dots for him: a $10,000 donation, plus
a $6.3 million contract, plus a $500,000 land deal. That equals
really bad optics.
The minister talks about the awarding process and the process
for bidding. It was certainly suspicious at the very least. It
is a process for a pal.
I would like to ask the Prime Minister this. How in the world
are his friends going to make a living when he retires?
Some hon. members: Oh, oh.
The Speaker: I would urge members on both sides to be
very judicious in their choice of words.
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, we are used to the hon. member, so it never surprises us
that she would like to be at that level.
I would just say that when somebody makes a bid 30% lower than
the others, when it is the lowest bid, $3 million lower than the
others, I think the government of Mali did pretty well in giving
the contract to that contractor.
* * *
[Translation]
PARENTAL LEAVE
Mr. Paul Crête (Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques,
BQ): Mr. Speaker, one of the most popular measures mentioned in
the throne speech is the proposal to double the length of
parental leave. This is good news.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear.
Mr. Paul Crête: It is good news, and we all agree on that, but
why will this measure come into effect in 2001 and not now?
[English]
Hon. Jane Stewart (Minister of Human Resources Development,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, recognizing the changing relationship
between the workforce and Canadian families, this government
knows that it is appropriate for parents to be at home in the
early years with their children.
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced a doubling of parental
benefits for Canadian families. That is a significant investment
in our children and in our families, and are we ever proud.
* * *
1450
AGRICULTURE
Mr. Murray Calder (Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Yesterday the WTO issued a ruling on Canada's imports and
exports of milk. Can the minister tell us whether this in any
way threatens our excellent system of supply management for
dairies?
Hon. Lyle Vanclief (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to assure everybody in this
House and in the dairy industry across Canada that this ruling in
no way, shape or form affects supply management. It is a
domestic marketing system.
We were very pleased with the tariff rate quotas for fluid milk.
The appellant body overthrew the ruling of the panel on that in
Canada's favour.
A little portion of the export of dairy products from Canada
will be affected by the ruling, but the dairy industry itself has
said that it is all right, they can adjust to that little
portion, which does not affect supply management in Canada.
* * *
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Mrs. Diane Ablonczy (Calgary—Nose Hill, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, when the Prime Minister took office he failed to
disclose under conflict of interest guidelines a $200,000 asset
owed to his numbered company.
His same company later happened to benefit from a land sale to
the lucky winner of a huge CIDA contract, land enriched by a
government grant to a nearby hotel.
What was the Prime Minister trying to hide by not disclosing the
$200,000 asset?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, everybody knows about it. I have been informed that the
person who owed the money has paid it all. There is no debt any
more.
I filed the form as it was presented to me and there was no such
request. But if we have to declare when we deposit $5 in the
bank that the bank owes us $5, probably we would have to write it
in the form the next time.
Mrs. Diane Ablonczy (Calgary—Nose Hill, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, on June 8 the Prime Minister said in the House: “Before
I became Prime Minister I sold those shares and I gave the
problem or the receivable to my trustee with my other assets”.
It was an asset which he did not disclose under his own conflict
of interest guidelines. The Prime Minister must know how
important it is to the Canadian public that they have confidence
in his ethical standards. If his behaviour is above reproach,
why has he refused to table the documents which will lay all of
these questions to rest?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, the trustee is managing this problem. The government
has given a clear indication that there was no such request from
anybody.
My trustee was given all the assets and managed them. I pray to
God that when I am not Prime Minister 10 years from now there
will still be some assets that I can get.
* * *
CHILD CARE
Mrs. Michelle Dockrill (Bras d'Or—Cape Breton, NDP): Mr.
Speaker, the throne speech passed over Canadian children rather
quickly by neglecting to mention any concrete plans for national
child care.
Canadian children need good quality care, not just in the first
year of life but in all of their pre-school years. Canadian
families need good quality, affordable child care now. Canadian
children cannot wait.
Will the minister commit today to a national child care program
that her government promised six years ago?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, we made a proposition on child care to the provinces and
they said no. We respect the jurisdiction of the provinces. It
was part of our program. We wanted to do that, but all the
provinces, including the NDP governments of British Columbia and
Saskatchewan, refused to have a joint program on day care.
We found another way to help families and we were successful.
1455
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the
Prime Minister is trying to get off the hook. The fact is that
when it comes to kids the government is full of bafflegab. Let
us try to get a clear answer.
Does the Prime Minister understand that a so-called children's
agenda is worthless unless it includes child care? Will the
minister and the Prime Minister remember that children have to be
included in a children's agenda? When are we going to see the
national child care program? Exactly where are the 150,000
spaces that were promised?
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I just explained that the NDP governments of the land
rejected the offer we made to them. With the refusal of the
so-called left governments, which are to the right of the Liberal
Party, we found other ways, through tax exemptions and other tax
incentives, to help families because we were more preoccupied
about child care than the NDP governments.
* * *
FISHERIES
Mr. Greg Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest, PC): Mr.
Speaker, here is the minister's record up to now in the east
coast lobster crisis: no moratorium, homes burned, businesses
destroyed, neighbour fighting neighbour, and 200 years of harmony
between natives and non-natives jeopardized. The fear and
uncertainty in this free-for-all continues.
Can we expect more of the same from this minister: no
leadership, no plan and no hope of a successful resolution?
Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal (Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am sure that hon. members
recognize the difficult situation. That is why we have to be
careful not to inflame the situation.
We have set forward a short term plan as well as a long term
plan. I think what we have to do now is work toward ensuring
that the aboriginal community can exercise that treaty right
toward a long term plan. That is exactly what we are doing. I
am encouraged by all of the co-operation that is happening at the
community level. At the community level people are talking.
Union members, native and non-native fishers are getting
together.
Mr. Greg Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest, PC): Mr.
Speaker, I just cited the minister's record on the short term
plan. It is a disaster.
We have eighth generation fishermen whose livelihood is
threatened. There is a crisis in the community and the minister
talks about a plan that does not exist. If the minister does
have a plan, can he show us what that plan is? The only plan the
minister has now is a plan for continued chaos. Will the
minister act, and act quickly?
Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal (Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, yes, we are already acting. We
are talking to all the parties. I have talked today to the
fishermen's union. I talked to the chiefs. We are working on it
right now. My colleagues and I are working as a government to
make sure that we have a dialogue, we have co-operation and we
bring people together. The real solutions are at the community
base, where people start talking to people, coming up with real
solutions for the long term. That is exactly what we are doing.
* * *
CHILD CARE
Mr. John O'Reilly (Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, in light of the recent announcement by the Prime
Minister that parental leave will be extended from six months to
one full year, can the Minister of Human Resources Development
tell this House what effect this decision will have on working
Canadians?
[Translation]
Hon. Jane Stewart (Minister of Human Resources Development,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, today the daily Le Devoir writes “After some
difficult years, Ottawa wants to take advantage of its sound
fiscal position to improve parental leave. Bravo”.
Mr. Speaker, we deliver.
* * *
[English]
EMPLOYMENT
Mr. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, the
government has known for over one year that the WTO would rule
against the auto pact. Yet, the government has done nothing to
assure Canada's auto workers that their jobs would not be
threatened as a result of this new ruling.
Why has the minister's department not put in place a strategy to
assure Canada's auto workers that their jobs are safe, knowing
the likely result of this ruling?
Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew (Minister for International Trade,
Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member of my full
confidence in the automobile industry of this country. It is a
strong and very healthy industry.
Yesterday we received a confidential interim report, which could
be seen in the Globe and Mail this morning as well as a
number of others papers.
It is a 400 page report. We are looking into it. We are
analyzing it. We will continue to have very close consultations
with the stakeholders and with the provinces as well. The
Government of Canada will make its comments to the panel in due
course. We will wait for the final decision of the panel, this
one being only an interim one.
* * *
1500
[Translation]
NATIVE PEOPLES
Mr. Claude Bachand (Saint-Jean, BQ): Mr. Speaker, it is not true
that things are fine in the aftermath of the Marshall decision.
Nothing is fine anymore.
Yesterday, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced that
33 out of 35 band councils had agreed to the moratorium. Today,
the number is zero. We are in troubled waters and the one voice
we do not hear is that of the new Minister of Indian and
Northern Affairs. I give him an opportunity to explain.
Since his government and the supreme court have confirmed the
right of native peoples to a regulated fishery, why is the
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs not negotiating his own
moratorium with them and offering them compensation?
[English]
Hon. Robert D. Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on Monday we will be having
a meeting with all the partners. The partners, the Minister of
Fisheries and Oceans and I are working on a long term plan and I
hope to announce it next week.
Mr. Peter Stoffer (Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern
Shore, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I should remind the government that
there is no lobster fishery going on in the Rideau Canal. This is
day 27 after the Marshall decision and there is still no
leadership from this government.
The Prime Minister himself said the parties have to get
together. Instead of hiding behind government bureaucrats in
Ottawa, why are the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans not down in
the maritime region right now dealing with the stakeholders? Why
are they not committing the necessary resources to meet the
negotiations before something comes up that we cannot handle?
Will the minister commit today to go down to the maritime
region?
Hon. Robert D. Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern
Development, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am here answering his
question. The answer to it is they will be coming here on
Monday. We will be talking about how to deal with the Marshall
case. Then we will be announcing the long term process to all the
House.
* * *
[Translation]
FISHERIES
Ms. Angela Vautour (Beauséjour—Petitcodiac, PC): Mr. Speaker, the
rejection of the 30 day moratorium on fishing in the Atlantic
region shows clearly that the minister is continuing to ignore
the seriousness of the situation. This government has shown the
people most directly concerned that it has absolutely no
leadership.
Through its clumsy handling of the situation, the government has
struck fear into the hearts of fishers in towns and villages
throughout Atlantic Canada.
What has the government done and what does it intend to do to
restore a feeling of security and peace of mind to people in
native and non-native communities?
[English]
Hon. Harbance Singh Dhaliwal (Minister of Fisheries and
Oceans, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is obvious the member was not
listening to the answer just given a few minutes ago.
We are working on a long term plan. We are meeting with the
aboriginal community. I think the hon. member will be able to
check that what we said earlier answers the question pretty
clearly.
* * *
PRESENCE IN GALLERY
The Speaker: I would like to draw the attention of
hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Honourable
Govind Raj Joshi, Minister for Water Resources of the Kingdom of
Nepal.
Some hon. members: Hear, hear.
* * *
1505
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
Mr. Randy White (Langley—Abbotsford, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
it is great that I get a question. At least once a week I am
assured of this.
I would like to ask the government House leader, who has all of
this wisdom about what is coming up in the House of Commons, what
the nature of the legislation is for the remainder of this week
and next week. I would also like to know whether or not the
government is going to stop the legislation coming forth on the
Nisga'a agreement because as you know, Mr. Speaker, we are
prepared to fight, fight, fight on that issue.
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am equally pleased to answer
the question because it is once a week when I get to answer a
question.
Today, tomorrow and Monday we will continue with the address
debate. There will be votes at the end of the day today, as well
as at the end of the day on Monday on the main amendment to the
throne speech.
On Tuesday morning we will have the debate on my motion to refer
Bill C-2, the elections legislation, to committee before second
reading. This debate may last up to three hours. Once it is
completed, we will consider the electronic commerce bill that
will be reintroduced tomorrow. In the last session that bill was
Bill C-54. It is being reintroduced in the same form as it stood
at prorogation. In order to assist members and hopefully to
expedite passage I have asked that a special early print of the
bill be made available to all hon. members as soon as it is
reintroduced tomorrow. I expect the debate on this bill will
carry us through the rest of the day on Tuesday and possibly as
late as next Wednesday.
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker,
I have a question for the government House leader with respect to
government business and the legislative agenda.
The government House leader will recall that the government made
a commitment in the last session of parliament to bring in
legislation with respect to a national ban on the bulk export of
water. There was no mention of this in the throne speech but it
had at one time or another been indicated that it might be part
of the legislative calendar. I wonder if the government House
leader can tell us, will there be such legislation and when will
it be forthcoming?
The Speaker: I am going to permit the question today but
usually the Thursday question sets up our business for the week.
If there has to be other information, perhaps we can get it in
another manner, but I will permit the government House leader to
respond if he wants to.
Hon. Don Boudria: Mr. Speaker, as far as I know it is
still the plan of the government to introduce such legislation in
the fall sitting of this parliament. As to an exact date, there
are ongoing consultations between House leaders. I will inform
my colleagues as soon as possible. At the present time it is
still part of the fall legislative agenda.
The Speaker: Before I recognize the member for York
South—Weston, I would simply remind him that this has to do with
legislation being put forth by the government for the House to
consider in the next week. With that in mind, I turn the floor
over to the member for York South—Weston.
Mr. John Nunziata (York South—Weston, Ind.): Mr. Speaker,
the minister indicated that it is the plan of the government to
send the elections bill to committee before second reading. That
is an unusual procedure to follow. There are established rules
in the House that require a second reading debate before a bill
is referred to committee.
Could the minister explain why he is taking this unusual route
with this bill?
1510
The Speaker: This is part of our body of rules right now.
It is my understanding the minister will make known his reasons.
When he introduces the bill he will be the first speaker. It is
part of our body of rules and as I understand it has been since
1997.
An hon. member: Since 1993.
The Speaker: I will check into it. I was told it was
1997.
* * *
PRIVILEGE
CANADIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
Ms. Val Meredith (South Surrey—White Rock—Langley,
Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make what I consider to
be a very serious question of privilege.
This question of privilege arises from a lawsuit that was
launched against me in 1996 but does not pertain to the actions
of the individual who filed the lawsuit. Rather it concerns the
activities and conduct of a government agency, the Canadian
Security Intelligence Service, during the course of this lawsuit.
To begin, I want to say that I do not question the established
precedent that prevents a member from using privilege to guard
against the lawsuit for what is said outside of the House. This
question of privilege has absolutely nothing to do with that.
Instead, I will provide prima facie evidence to the Chair that
demonstrates how the conduct and activities of CSIS regarding
this case form what I believe to be a new and disturbing method
of intimidation of a member of parliament.
I will show that CSIS improperly collected information and then
subsequently disclosed that information in clear violation of
CSIS policy to a third party. I will show that CSIS abandoned
the traditional non-partisan role of the public service by taking
an active role in the preparation of a lawsuit against an
opposition member of parliament, including having its legal
counsel provide the plaintiff and the plaintiff's lawyer with
advice.
Finally, I will show that CSIS misused its extraordinary
authority to protect national security, was twice sanctioned for
misconduct and deliberately misled the court to frustrate my
ability to resolve the lawsuit.
Thus the gist of my question of privilege is the deliberate
effort of CSIS to intimidate me from speaking freely in the House
of Commons and from performing my role as official opposition
critic.
I raise this issue today because this is the first opportunity
to do so since the completion of my court case. Although the
standing orders state that the sub judice convention only applies
in a civil lawsuit during the trial days of the proceedings, I
undertook an agreement with the Board of Internal Economy not to
utilize this lawsuit for political purposes. At the time I
entered into that agreement, I was unaware of the role that CSIS
had played in the case up to that time, nor could I possibly have
envisioned the role that CSIS would subsequently take in this
case. I have lived up to my obligation with the BOIE and have
bided my time until today, my opportunity to raise this issue.
As I previously mentioned, this form of intimidation is
unprecedented. However in Erskine May, 21st edition, page 115
states that an offence for contempt “may be treated as a
contempt even though there is no precedent of the offence. It is
therefore impossible to list every act which might be considered
to amount to a contempt, the power to punish for such an offence
being of its nature discretionary”.
On October 29, 1980, a Speaker of this House had this to say:
This is precisely the reason that, while our privileges are
defined, contempt of the House has no limits.
1515
Let me provide this brief summary of the evidence in the
documents that I have before me that confirms their efforts to
intimidate me. I am prepared to read it all but would prefer
just to provide it to you, Mr. Speaker. Almost all the
information contained in the plaintiff's statement of claim
originated from CSIS. In fact the statement of claim contains a
copy of my press release which bears the fax identification of
the former solicitor general which was sent to CSIS.
The plaintiff's affidavit of documents consists of 107 documents
which included some of my press releases, as well as newspaper
clippings, radio and television transcripts from media outlets
across the country. Every one of them came from CSIS, some of
them before and some of them after the commencement of the
lawsuit.
The plaintiff also included four video tapes of media reports,
all of which were recorded by CSIS and forwarded to the
plaintiff. In a discovery of the plaintiff conducted on February
17, 1998, the plaintiff admitted in regard to the video tapes
that “they were provided to me without my asking”. Both the
plaintiff and his lawyer admitted during the proceedings that
CSIS assisted the plaintiff in the preparation of his lawsuit.
In a letter dated July 20, 1998, from the plaintiff's lawyer to
my lawyer the following passage is included: “certain members of
CSIS have co-operated with the plaintiff in preparation of his
case”.
At a discovery of the plaintiff at the federal court on November
3, 1998, the plaintiff acknowledged that part of the reason he
had contacted a senior manager at CSIS was to discuss the means
by which he would proceed with his lawsuit. As well, at that
same discovery the lawyer for the plaintiff admitted that “the
legal counsel for CSIS had spoken with me from time to time, and
I am sure with the plaintiff from time to time, trying to give us
advice”.
Thus it is clear from these comments that CSIS played a role in
the preparation and conduct of the lawsuit against me. What is
of particular concern is the fact that throughout the discoveries
it was confirmed that it was Mr. Tom Bradley who played the key
role in providing all this information to the plaintiff. This is
of concern because Tom Bradley is, or was until recently, a
senior member of the CSIS secretariat.
On the CSIS organizational chart the secretariat answers
directly to the director of CSIS and among their duties was
liaison between CSIS and the solicitor general's office.
The Speaker: Order, please. This is a question of
privilege. It does affect all of us. I invite members, if they
have other meetings, to please carry them on in the lobby. I am
sure that I as well as many others want to hear what the member
is saying.
Ms. Val Meredith: Mr. Speaker, the CSIS Act clearly
limits what information CSIS can collect, generally restricting
it to information that may on reasonable grounds be suspected of
constituting threats to the security of Canada. I would suggest
that the CSIS collection of all this information was improper.
As limiting as the laws are restricting the ability of CSIS to
collect information, they are equally restrictive with regard to
the ability of the service to disclose any information collected.
Section 19 of the CSIS Act severely restricts the information it
may disclose and nowhere in this section does it permit the
disclosure of information to a private individual to assist his
lawsuit against a member of parliament.
In addition to the CSIS Act, section 3.(7) of the human
resources policy manual states that employees must not support or
oppose any person, organization or product by using information
obtained through their employment by the service except when
authorized by the director. It is quite clear that the
disclosure of this information to the plaintiff was in violation
of the service's own policy.
Unfortunately CSIS was not satisfied with the role in assisting
with the preparation of the lawsuit against me.
They proceeded to directly involve themselves in the case in what
can best be described by the following: In July 1998 Madam
Justice MacLeod of the Ontario court ordered that the plaintiff
must answer 38 questions that he had refused to answer at
discovery.
1520
Immediately following the court's granting of the aforementioned
order, counsel for CSIS filed a certificate of objection signed
by Jim Corcoran, CSIS deputy director of operations, with Madam
Justice MacLeod pursuant to sections 37 and 38 of the Canada
Evidence Act. In that certificate Mr. Corcoran claimed that
disclosure of the information requested in 32 of the 38 questions
which were ordered to be answered would be “injurious to the
national security of Canada”. The remaining six questions were
considered personal.
In July, I was forced to challenge the validity of that
certificate through a notice of application filed in the federal
court.
In August, Mr. Justice Teitelbaum of the Federal Court of Canada
issued an order which, among other things, instructed that
cross-examination of the affidavit should occur prior to October
5, 1998. CSIS filed the affidavit by Barry Denofsky, director
general of analysis and production, on September 11. However, in
direct contravention of the order of Mr. Justice Teitelbaum, they
refused to make Denofsky available for cross-examination.
On October 5, Mr. Justice Teitelbaum ruled that CSIS must make
Denofsky available for cross-examination and costs were awarded
against CSIS. Mr. Denofsky appeared for cross-examination.
However he refused to answer almost all questions of substance,
51 in total.
My lawyer filed a notice of motion requiring CSIS to produce Mr.
Denofsky for further cross-examination, requiring him to answer
the questions he had previously refused. The day before the
federal court hearing on January 14, almost 11 weeks after Mr.
Denofsky's cross-examination, CSIS provided responses to 39 of
the 51 questions they previously had refused to answer.
On January 15, 1999, the hearing before Mr. Teitelbaum took
place and Mr. Justice Teitelbaum ruled on March 5. He ordered
CSIS to answer an additional three questions, which meant out of
the original 51 questions that CSIS had refused to answer only
nine of them, less than 20%, were deemed to be valid objections.
Once again costs were awarded against CSIS.
It is clear from the behaviour of CSIS that its main objective
was to drag out the proceedings and deny me the opportunity of
having this case heard in court. However the delaying tactics of
CSIS were only part of the process. The content of its responses
was even more troubling, which I have included in the
documentation.
In answering a question about the information the service passed
to the plaintiff they neglected to mention the 107 press
releases. CSIS also stated that it had passed the video tapes to
the plaintiff in response to a request from him. However, as I
have mentioned before, the plaintiff in discovery said that they
were provided to him without his asking.
In addition it mentioned that only one CSIS policy document was
passed to the plaintiff. Yet the very affidavit that this
discovery was about lists five different CSIS policy documents.
In other words, of the three points that CSIS made in this answer
all three of them were incorrect.
I cannot imagine, after making inquiries, that any member of a
professional intelligence agency would be so incompetent that
they could possibly inadvertently overlook all of this
information, including the very affidavit that was being
reviewed.
The last piece of evidence that I will mention concerns the very
certificate of objection that CSIS filed. When CSIS filed the
certificate on July 7, 1998, the deputy director of operations,
Jim Corcoran, certified that he had carefully reviewed and
considered all the questions set out in that statement. He then
certified that “the information sought by this motion, either by
confirmation or denial of the said information, would be contrary
to the public interest as it would be injurious to the national
security of Canada”.
One such question was where the plaintiff refused to state
during discovery whether or not it was normal that a full scale
security investigation be done for people getting their security
clearance renewed.
Despite the claim of CSIS that the answer to this question would
be injurious to the national security of Canada, I have obtained
the answer to this question from the Treasury Board's public
website, listed under personal security standards.
1525
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I believe that I have provided you
with sufficient evidence to find that there is a prima facie case
of contempt against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
As an opposition critic who has previously been critical of CSIS,
its role in this case has effectively prevented me from raising
concerns about it for three and a half years.
In addition, CSIS has sent me and all members of the House a
clear message that it is keeping track of us, watching what we do
and listening to everything we say, and that it is prepared to
pounce if it objects to the way in which we conduct ourselves. It
has also shown that it is prepared to misuse the extraordinary
authority that parliament has given to it to put us in an
unwinnable situation.
The premier of Quebec launched an inquiry when officials in his
government improperly released information about a federal member
of parliament. While not raised in a question of privilege it
was considered wrong and an inquiry was ordered. The National
Assembly of Quebec chose to take action against this activity,
and this parliament should do the same in the case concerning
CSIS.
In my case CSIS conducted certain activities and utilized
significant resources against me. The evidence shows that CSIS
certainly took a role in orchestrating the lawsuit against me. As
I have shown, CSIS improperly collected information and then
subsequently disclosed that information to a third party in clear
violation of CSIS policy.
I have shown that CSIS abandoned the traditional non-partisan
role of the public service by taking an active role in the
preparation of a lawsuit against an opposition member of
parliament, including having its legal counsel provide the
plaintiff and the plaintiff's lawyer with advice.
Finally, I have shown that CSIS has misused its extraordinary
authority to protect national security, that it was twice
sanctioned by the federal court for misconduct, and that it
deliberately misled the court to frustrate my ability to resolve
the lawsuit.
One of the basic tenets of democracy is that opposition
politicians have the ability to oppose the government without
fear of intimidation. I suggest that the Canadian Security
Intelligence Service has tried to introduce intimidation into
Canadian politics.
I believe it is vital that this form of intimidation is stopped
immediately. Opposition critics need to know that they can
fulfil their function of criticizing a government department
without fear that the department will retaliate by orchestrating
a lawsuit against them.
I therefore encourage you, Mr. Speaker, to make a precedent in
this case by finding the behaviour of CSIS in this case in
contempt of the House. I will provide the document I have here
to support this claim. If you find that there is a prima facie
case of privilege, I will move that this issue be sent to the
appropriate committee for consideration.
Mr. Chuck Strahl (Fraser Valley, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I
thank you for entertaining what I think is a very important
question of privilege. The detail has been gone into at some
length here. I invite you to examine that record and the more
detailed information that the hon. member will provide to you.
What I think it comes down to is this, and it is a very
important thing. There are a couple of important things to
remember about this question of privilege. First, as has already
been detailed by the hon. member, the question of contempt is an
open-ended one. It may not be with precedence, and I do not
think you will find precedence for this, Mr. Speaker. Certainly
I was not able to find precedence in a question of privilege, but
contempt of parliament is an open-ended subject and in this
particular case I hope you will find a prima facie case for
contempt and will refer it to committee.
1530
The second thing I want to mention, which the member did not
bring up but which is important for all members to remember, is
that if a member of parliament is sued by anyone else in Canada
and the person who does the suing receives substantial support
from a government department, there is no way that a member of
parliament, with few exceptions, has deep enough pockets to fund
an adequate defence against an entire government agency.
I can think of another very troubling case that was settled some
time ago involving former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney over the
airbus incident. I do not want to cast any idea of who is right
or wrong, but what was interesting was that the government
eventually had to settle for over $2 million to pay for the legal
bills that Mr. Mulroney, because he is a wealthy man, was able to
put forward in his own defence.
How many members of parliament could have ever done that? If he
had been an ordinary member of parliament without those kind of
deep pockets, I think Mr. Mulroney would be hanging on the ropes
today instead of free and clear of that issue because he was able
to fund that defence.
That is why I think it is important that a government agency
versus an ordinary member of parliament is an unequal fight and a
contempt of parliament and we should see it that way.
Mr. Jim Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
as the solicitor general critic for the official opposition, I
draw to your attention a meeting of our standing committee on May
25 with Director Alcock of CSIS.
Mr. Speaker, if you have an opportunity to review the committee
report of that session, you will find that the director exhibited
the kind of culture and characteristics that have been spoken
about by my colleague. As my colleague has pointed out, it is
very important that parliamentarians are free from any sense of
intimidation, in particular in the case of the meeting on May 25.
It was so troubling to all members of parliament, government
members and all opposition members, that we subsequently held a
second meeting to find out what our remedies would be in trying
to get instruction to a very reluctant witness. In this
particular case it was Director Alcock who just basically refused
to respect the questions from the people in the Chamber.
I draw that to your attention, Mr. Speaker, because I think it
adds something to the picture that we are looking at here.
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have listened with attention
to the initial presentation made by the hon. member and the
subsequent statements that were made.
First, I do not believe that Mr. Speaker should be influenced
between a criminal case against a civilian and a civil case
against a member of parliament. The two comparisons that were
made have, quite frankly, nothing to do one with the other and
the references to them are immaterial. I do not know what they
do to the seriousness of this issue.
I am prepared to acknowledge that the accusations themselves are
obviously quite serious. It has been alleged that CSIS offered
assistance to a former employee in a civil case involving a
member of parliament. It is alleged that this action then
constitutes a question of privilege or possibly contempt or both.
If I understood what the hon. member requested, it is that this
case should be brought to the attention of a parliamentary
committee for review.
Given the seriousness of these accusations, I want to remove the
other materials stated by other members of parliament. I do not
think some of them had anything to do with this issue.
I would ask Mr. Speaker for a stay on the ruling he intends to
give, whether this constitutes a prima facie case of privilege. I
would ask that I be given a little time, and possibly other
members might want to contribute toward what has been alleged
today. In a few short hours we will have a Hansard or at
least a fast version of Hansard giving us the details of
what the hon. member has said.
If I understand correctly, she has offered to table some
documents with Mr. Speaker. If some of us could perhaps have
those documents made available to us we could further contribute
before Mr. Speaker makes his initial determination as to whether
this constitutes a prima facie case of privilege.
1535
To repeat what I said earlier, I would ask for a stay in the
Speaker's ruling on this matter, given the issue in question and
the considerable amount of information made available to us by
the member of parliament in question, to permit us to at least
examine the material, then contribute and perhaps Mr. Speaker
will consider ruling only at that time.
Ms. Val Meredith: Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to table
this information.
The Speaker: These allegations are indeed serious if
the allegations are true and if I decide that we will go ahead
with a prima facie case. I want it understood that it is not
just for opposition members for whom we are talking. We are
talking about the rights of Canadian parliamentarians
specifically. I of course invite the hon. member to submit to me
any and all documents.
I also invite the member for Kootenay—Columbia, seeing as he
quoted or said that it was in a committee report—either he could
do that or I could direct my clerks—to make the information from
that meeting and a subsequent meeting that he mentioned available
to me before I make my decision.
Seeing that there are no more interventions at this time, I
intend to review everything that has been said and everything
that has been written about this particular point and I am going
to give this latitude. It may be a point of privilege and it may
be contempt. I am going to look at it in both venues. I am not
going to stand here on splitting a hair. It may be privilege or
it may be contempt. I will decide that after I have it all laid
out in front of me.
The hon. government House leader has asked that I stay my
decision. I have said that I would do that. I would entertain
information if it pertains directly to what was said by the hon.
member here in the House or what is in the documents which she is
going to provide to me. Any other statements will not be heard
by me. They must be specifically to those points.
I will take this information under consideration now and I will
get back to the House with a decision on this case.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS
[English]
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON ADDRESS IN REPLY
The House resumed consideration of the motion for an address to
Her Excellency the Governor General in reply to her speech at the
opening of the session, of the amendment and of the amendment to
the amendment.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): At the time that the
debate was interrupted the hon. member for Vancouver Quadra had
five minutes remaining for questions and comments. There were
two minutes left in the presentation and then five minutes
questions and comments. Would the hon. member for Vancouver
Quadra like to proceed directly to questions and comments or take
the two minutes to sum up?
1540
Mr. Ted McWhinney (Vancouver Quadra, Lib.): Mr. Speaker,
I had essentially completed my remarks which were on the
knowledge century in the new millennium, the 21st century
professorships. I had also made some brief remarks on several
other matters. I think we could take questions at this stage if
there are any questions from hon. members.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): There being no
questions or comments on the intervention by the hon. member for
Vancouver Quadra and before we get into debate, I would like to
make something clear because there was a misunderstanding a
little bit earlier.
During the time for questions and comments that are usually five
minutes, if there are a number of members standing when I call
for questions and comments who have indicated that they would
like to participate in the questions and comments, then I will
try to advise who will be called for questions and comments. At
that time, it is obvious that if there are five minutes to spend
on questions and comments and three people who wish to make a
question or a comment, it requires about 30 to 40 seconds with a
little bit of leeway. After that, the point is going to have to
be made and the response is going to have to be made with equal
brevity. If we do not do that, we are not going to get the
opportunity to have as many members participate. If there is
only one member standing then we will have much more latitude for
the question, comment or response. That is the way we have been
proceeding for the last two years. That is the way I intend to
proceed, in the absence of advice otherwise, for the next two
years.
Mrs. Elsie Wayne (Saint John, PC): Mr. Speaker, I will
be sharing my time with my colleague for Brandon—Souris and I
will be splitting it equally.
There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. A lot of
people were waiting for this wonderful vision for the millennium
and thought that was exactly what they were going to get. They
thought that they would see things that would turn things around
throughout Canada, from the east coast to the west coast. A lot
of people were very disappointed after the throne speech came
out.
We know that the good book says, “where there is no vision the
people perish”. That has been the situation in Canada under the
government because so many people are hurting. I thought there
might be something there for the Atlantic region. I know the MPs
from the Atlantic region were waiting for the throne speech
because they thought there would be something there with regard
to regional development. I heard one MP say that she was so
pleased with the throne speech that she was going to dance in the
streets. I have not found anyone else that wants to be her
partner while she is dancing. She is going to dance all by
herself. The lack of vision was truly sad.
The one good thing that came out of the throne speech was the
infrastructure program. Having been a mayor, and many of us in
the House of Commons were mayors before, I know how we fought for
that infrastructure program. The government is saying it is
going to continue the program. I have talked to the people from
FCM and they are very pleased about that. I am also pleased
about that.
However, we should have been back here September 1, not the
middle of October. Let us look at what is happening with our
airline service. We are not sure where it is going. In my city
of Saint John, New Brunswick, we are not sure what is going to
happen. If we do not have airline service then what happens to
the economy? What happens to the people?
Let us take a look at the other issues, the immigration issue
and the illegal immigrants coming into Canada. No one has dealt
with that very serious situation. Let us take a look at the
fishery.
I asked those questions today in the House. The fisheries is a
serious situation and violence can and will occur unless the
Prime Minister of Canada himself steps in. The Prime Minister
has to go to the table. I had aboriginal people in my office at
nine o'clock this morning. These are not people that live on the
reserves, but the minister of fisheries has refused to meet with
them. He and the Prime Minister have to meet and talk with them.
1545
There was a great deal in the Speech from the Throne about
children. I have two children of my own and two grandchildren
and like everyone else I am very concerned about the future. I
want to make sure there is a strong foundation for my two little
grandchildren.
I feel very strongly about families. I feel very strongly that
we have to help them. We have to make sure that there is a
strong foundation to continue to build on and assist the family
unit. It is very important that we reduce personal income tax.
We should be putting money back into the pockets of those
parents.
It is also very important that the transfer payments be
increased so that we can have health care back where it should
be. One would not believe the horror stories in my riding office
that have happened through health care. We have lost in our part
of Canada many of our specialists. They have gone to the United
States. That is where they are at. We just lost another one. We
cannot replace them. We cannot afford to pay them the same
salary. It is a major concern. We have to reduce our massive
national debt. I do not want our grandchildren to have to pay
for it. I want us to work and do it right.
When I took over as mayor the city was in a very poor financial
position, just like the country is in a very poor financial
position, and I wanted to get us into a borrowing debt free
position. I asked the commissioner of finance to give me three
programs to look at to try to get us into a borrowing debt free
position.
When he put those programs before me it just so happened that on
my council I had a professor at the time. That professor said to
me “Elsie, come here to the window”. I went to the window and
I looked. He said “That little man down there sweeping the
street works for us, Elsie. We have to make sure that man
continues to work. We do not want to slash, burn and cut to the
point that he has no way to feed his family”. We did it in a
very responsible way. This has to happen again at the federal
level.
I have waited, and I am sure a lot of people across the country
were waiting, for something in the throne speech on defence,
something in that speech to help merchant mariners so they are
not back here on the Hill on a hunger strike again. If we do not
resolve the compensation issue for merchant mariners they will be
back up on the Hill by November 11 and they will be on another
hunger strike.
Of those men who were here on a hunger strike, one of them has
been in the hospital for two operations since he went back. If
he comes here again we will be burying him from the steps of
Parliament Hill. That has to be resolved and it has not been
resolved. It is truly sad when we take a look at how the
Liberals have cut the defence budget to the point that our troops
that have to go to Croatia, Kosovo and East Timor do not have the
equipment they should have.
This is the international year of seniors and seniors were never
mentioned in the throne speech. What an insult for the seniors
of Canada. They must have been hurt. I have looked at the
cutbacks in programs that used to be there for them. They are no
longer there and the seniors are having a difficult time.
The government needs to raise the basic income tax exemption to
$10,000. This could eliminate a lot of people from the tax
rolls, more than two million lower income workers. The solutions
rest in the strengthening of the family unit with lower taxes,
with better co-operation among Ottawa, the provinces, the
territories and our communities. We have to look at the quality
of life.
Since the government came into power in 1993 it has increased
personal income taxes by 15%. In five years it did that.
In five years a lot of middle income Canadians are worse off
today than they have ever been. I know that myself. My
daughter-in-law said to me “Mom, I find it hard these days to
make ends meet”. I said “I know, dear, because you are paying
more in taxes than ever before”. I have to say right now that
things have to change, that things have to turn around.
1550
It was a throne speech. It was supposed to be for all the
people. However, there had better be a better vision than what
was contained in that throne speech if we want to turn Canada
around. If we want to do what is right for families, if we want
to do what is right for all Canadians from coast to coast, there
is a lot more that needs to be done.
[Translation]
Ms. Jocelyne Girard-Bujold (Jonquière, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I
listened closely to the member for Saint John and I think she
gave a fine speech. I also see that she has the same health
problems in her riding as we have in Quebec.
The present federal government, led by the Liberals, has always
given us to understand that only Quebec had problems with its
health system, because of its sovereignist government. Its
sidekick in Quebec, the Liberal Party, has said the same thing.
I am therefore happy to note that the member for Saint John has
the same problems in her region.
But, given the Canada-wide problems the member pointed out, I
would like to know what this government, which has helped itself
to provincial transfer payments, should have done right away in
the throne speech, instead of promising action for 2001 or 2002.
I would like the member for Saint John to tell us what she
would have liked to see in the throne speech that would have
solved health problems in Canada.
[English]
Mrs. Elsie Wayne: Mr. Speaker, I would have liked to have
seen money injected immediately into our health care, our
educational system and transfer payments for both, along with
social programs, and not in the year 2001. That is two years
down the road.
We are suffering now and steps have to be taken now to correct
it. In the year 2001 we will be worse off than we are today.
Steps have to be taken. We have to push the government to make
sure that it puts that money in there before the year 2001.
[Translation]
Mr. René Canuel (Matapédia—Matane, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I have also
listened to my colleague. She said that there was absolutely
nothing for seniors. I say that this is scandalous, when we are
in the International Year of Older Persons.
Last week, I saw some publicity on seniors clubs while watching
television at home. Mr. Boulianne from my riding was on the
program—and this very honourable gentleman did a very nice job,
I might add—but they paid to get some coverage. There are other
equally honourable people who cannot get on TV and they are
forgotten. Why are only a few people shown on television while
others without a cent to their name are forgotten?
There are many seniors living in almost dire straits.
I will let the hon. member respond to that shortly.
Reference is made to youth and children. In 1988, the House of
Commons voted unanimously for there to be no more poor children
by the year 2000. There were a million of them at that time,
and today there are 1.5 million. That is shocking. A policy
has been announced. I am not saying it is not helpful, but it is
not applicable until the year 2001.
I am asking what the hon. member for Saint John thinks of this.
1555
[English]
Mrs. Elsie Wayne: Mr. Speaker, as I stated, we need to
have policies right now. The government has cut the Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation housing project. We had a
number of housing projects for seniors in my riding which gave
them a beautiful quality of life. It also put carpenters,
electricians and cabinetmakers to work. It created a good
economy for us, but there is nothing for these people now. I
have 1,000 families in Saint John, New Brunswick, that are in
need of housing and there is no program at all.
They do not want to tell me that the year 2001 is good. It has
to be done now.
Mr. Rick Borotsik (Brandon—Souris, PC): Mr. Speaker, it
is always difficult to follow the member for Saint John. I will
try my best to liven it up, but as I said it is somewhat
difficult to match that enthusiasm.
I am very pleased to be able to respond to the Speech from the
Throne as presented by the new governor general. We all
congratulate and welcome Adrienne Clarkson to her new post as
governor general.
I am pleased to stand in this august House to represent my
constituents of Brandon—Souris. I certainly thank them for
giving me the opportunity to represent them. I assure them that
I will do my best to represent them to the best of my capacity. I
will certainly pass on their concerns to the government.
As one of the members of the government said, the throne speech
was not supposed to have any substance to it but was supposed to
show the vision of the government going into 21st century. By
the way, the government succeeded in not having any substance in
that speech, but it did not succeed very well in showing the
vision of the government going into the 21st century.
My colleague from Saint John talked about a specific area that
was neglected in the throne speech, that of housing. It is
incumbent upon the government to see where Canadians want to be
not only next year or five years from now but ten and fifteen
years from now. Housing is only one cog in the wheel of what
Canadians require for their well-being and livelihood. I will
touch on a couple of others.
The Liberals succeeded in putting forward a very warm and fuzzy
Speech from the Throne. They touched on some of the hot buttons,
the points of issue Canadians feel very comfortable about. They
touched on the environment. That is very good and very positive.
The environment is very important to all of us as Canadians. We
have to breathe air and drink water and make sure we have
sustainability in our agriculture community so we have food to
sustain us through the next decade and the next century.
They touched on health care but they talked about the research
requirements in health care. They did not really talk about
where health care would be going in the next 10, 15 or 20 years,
or about what Canadians would like to see as their health care
system unfolds into the 21st century. This is not something that
we can say is status quo. We have to look to the future.
They talked about children and youth, a very important aspect of
our society. The children we bring into this world and this
country are obviously a resource and we have to look after them.
Unfortunately they did not go far enough with respect to children
and youth in our society.
The problem with Canadians today in listening to the throne
speech is that they have a tendency not to believe governments
any longer, in particular this government. The government has a
history of perhaps saying things Canadians would like to hear but
of perhaps not implementing them in the way Canadians feel they
should be implemented.
I do not have to go very far. I simply have to look at the
record. I have to look at the red book. I have to look at the
scrapping of the GST which did not come to fruition. I have to
talk about the free trade issue. They were going to rip up the
agreement, which is one of the major reasons the budget is now
balanced. It is the reason the Liberal government can now take
credit for something that was put into place by a government that
had vision, that could look 10 and 15 years down the road and say
that what is right for Canadians now is a free trade agreement so
that we are a partner in the globalized trading world of today.
If it were a Liberal government that had to put that into place,
we would still be hewers of wood and drawers of water.
1600
The Liberals have not fulfilled any of their promises.
Canadians today will be somewhat skeptical when they look at the
throne speech that was presented two days ago.
The Liberals talk about taxes that will be reduced. Canadians
do not believe them because right now taxes are taking a larger
portion of their pay packets than what they did previous to 1993.
The Liberals talked about health care and they talked about the
research components of health care. What they did not tell us is
that by 2003, with the $11 billion put back in by the Liberal
government over five years, we will be at the same level of
support in health care that we were at in 1993. That is the
wrong way to head into the new century. We are going backward,
not forward. The Liberals hold it up as being a centrepiece of
their platform. The fact is they do not know where they are
heading with health care and Canadians are concerned about that.
I think Canadians wanted to have a good feeling as to where this
government wanted to head in the future with respect to the
retirement of our debt. Our debt did not come to us immediately.
As a matter of fact it came to us over a number of years
inclusive of the Liberal government and Mr. Trudeau and inclusive
of other governments.
We have to put a plan together so that we can reduce that debt.
It has to be a well thought out logical plan that extends a
number of years into the next century. But there was none of
that. What was in the throne speech was that yes, they will deal
with it if they possibly can. That is not a plan.
The throne speech did not talk about an area that is very close
and dear to my heart and my constituency of Brandon—Souris,
which by the way I think reflects society in general, an urban
rural area. We have people who are rich and poor. We have
people who are young and old. My constituents wanted to hear
something about agriculture. Not once was the word mentioned,
with the exception of WTO and trade and agriculture put together.
Agriculture is the backbone of this country and always has been.
I am frustrated and disappointed. We did not have to come up
with the solutions. What we needed was the vision. A government
member said “we do not deal with substance, we deal with
vision”.
Where are we going with agriculture? There is no support. We
are not supported against the Europeans and the Americans right
now. All the government had to say is that philosophically
agriculture is a very important component to this society, that
it believes in a very strong, domestic supply of food for our
country. That is all the government had to say. It had to say
that the environment is very important and agriculture is an
important part of the environment. It had to say that with the
endangered species legislation the government talked about, it is
important that we deal with agriculture and producers to make
sure the endangered species legislation works. The government
never said that. It never tied into it. That is vision and that
is what is lacking in the throne speech.
That is where we had to head with vision and that is what I did
not see.
We talk about the seniors. What about vision with respect to
the baby boomers that are now among the seniors? Why do we not
talk about retirement in 2010 or 2020? That is vision. This is a
reactive government, not a proactive government. I would rather
have had something in the throne speech that said there is a
change in what is happening in society right now. A huge
population is aging. We have to look at retirement. We have to
look at government policies as to how those people plan for
retirement. There was none of that.
What was there? In the last budget the Liberals put into place
they increased the CPP contributions by twice as much. That is
their plan for retirement into the future. There is no vision.
That was lacking in the throne speech.
A pet peeve and a soap box I like to get on is the world of
work. Work is changing all around us. There is contract work.
People are now doing work in their own homes. There are people
who are part time employees, whether they want to be or not. That
is the vision. The Liberals have to put a plan in place to
accommodate those people in 2000, 2010 and 2020. I am
disappointed. What we got were warm fuzzies with no substance.
Yes, that is what the Liberals attempted to do and that is what
they achieved.
First, we do not believe the Liberals will do anything that they
said they would do. Second, it did not go far enough.
1605
If this is the vision of this government, if this is the
direction in which this government wants to take us after January
1, 2000, then I am very concerned. Our citizens are concerned.
I have to register my final complaint. It goes back to
agriculture. For the government not to have said a word about it
is absolutely disgusting. Canadians from coast to coast needed
some assurances and confidence. They got nothing in the throne
speech and I am very concerned about our direction in the next
century.
[Translation]
Ms. Jocelyne Girard-Bujold (Jonquière, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I have
listened carefully to the speech by the hon. member for
Brandon—Souris. I would have liked him to have said what he
thinks about the measure on parental leave.
The government tells us that we need to help young families to
have children, but then it organizes things in such a way that
parental leave will only take effect in the year 2001, and takes
the money from the employment insurance fund. I would like to
hear the hon. member address this point.
[English]
Mr. Rick Borotsik: Mr. Speaker, I left the parental leave
to my colleague from Saint John and I thought she handled it very
well.
I have two children. I believe very strongly that children
should have access to their parents during their formative years,
particularly between one and three years of age. I did it as a
father. My wife did it as a mother. I am very proud of the way
we had our children grow up and develop.
At that time we did not have many supports from the federal
government. If those supports are available, we will encourage
it absolutely. We have to make sure that our children are taken
care of because that is the resource we are going to depend on
over the next number of years.
Mr. Rick Laliberte (Churchill River, NDP): Mr. Speaker,
I know the hon. member has a vested interest in the agricultural
industry and the family farm crisis being experienced throughout
Canada, especially in the prairie provinces. He is very close to
the industry in the Brandon area.
What does the hon. member think about the concentrated control
of our food and drug industry in North America and the world? A
handful of multinationals control the food input and output costs
of the farmers and the farmers are vulnerable. The farmers want
to be as independent as they can be, but they are at the whim of
the multinationals with commodity prices, input prices,
herbicides, drugs, pesticides and seed costs. Now biotechnology
is coming into play. All farmers have to pay for the research
and development of these technologies coming in. The Liberal
government seems to be very proud of this biotech division, but
the farmers are being led through an evolutionary change on the
family farm.
I would like to hear the hon. member's comments about that.
Mr. Rick Borotsik: Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member
for his question. It is an excellent one.
I go back to my comments about having an understanding as to
where we want to go in agriculture. Do we want Canadians to have
a reliable domestic food supply? I think that if we asked
Canadians, they would say yes. Canadians would say yes to an
affordable food supply. We have to talk about the
multifunctionality of agriculture with respect to the
environment. I think Canadians would say it is an important
factor. Do we want to have an independence in that sector and
that industry? I think Canadians would say yes.
Those are the questions the government did not ask. If
Canadians say yes to all of those, then we have to put a
philosophy together that says we will make sure that agriculture
is going to exist in our country in the next 20 years and that it
is going to be in family farms, as the hon. member has said.
Family farms have changed with evolution, too. Family farms now
are anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000 acres in my area, where a family
farm used to be one section or less.
We have to be flexible enough to recognize that there is an
evolution in agriculture, but we have to make sure that there is
still an independent ownership of that agriculture, of the people
who live in our communities and who want to continue to grow
crops in those communities. We have to protect them against some
of the issues the hon. member just mentioned. We have to protect
them against some of this intrusion into their flexibility and
independence.
1610
Mr. George Proud (Hillsborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am
sharing my time with the hon. member for Guelph—Wellington.
It is an honour for me to speak today to show my confidence in
the government and the programs set out in the Governor General's
Speech from the Throne. I would like to offer my humble thanks
to Her Excellency Madam Clarkson for the gracious speech which
she addressed to both Houses of Parliament and to all Canadians.
There is much to talk about the millennium and what the next
century holds. After hearing the Speech from the Throne I am
certain we will enjoy a fruitful millennium, one which the Canada
we know today will continue on its course of greatness in the
next century and beyond, the Canada we know which looks after all
citizens and creates a positive environment allowing them to
maximize their potential as individuals and as collectivities.
I could go on for days describing the wonderful state in which
we live, but I am here today to show my support for our
government and its plans for the coming years, its plan that will
lay the foundations for generations inhabiting this great land.
I see the Speech from the Throne as a symbol of the incredible
progress we have made over the last six years. We have gone from
inheriting a Canada where the future looked bleak to being well
prepared for the challenges a new world brings us. It is by far
one of the most promising and well thought out programs I have
had the pleasure to be part of. I would like to commend the
government on its foresight. We are honoured to be part of a
plan that takes into consideration not only the needs of middle
class Canadians, but also recognizes those Canadians who may be
in a less fortunate position.
We see before us a government that is ready to commit to
children and youth, to rebuilding communities, strengthening the
environment, increasing disposable income through tax relief and
improving our place in the world. We should be proud of our
commitment to Canada and proud we are.
I am also greatly pleased that so much of what our program
entails is going to directly benefit my home province of Prince
Edward Island. Children are going to enter the millennium with a
better education, better standard of living and a better future
than has ever been seen in our history as a nation. New parents
are going to have an edge over my generation. Mothers and
fathers alike will be able to raise a family without having to
worry about the future.
I remember a time not so long ago when the thought of raising a
family in the 21st century concerned a lot of people. It
concerned us because under the last government we were headed
toward a society where families would have been ignored. Today
we can look forward with hope.
We can be hopeful because we are taking steps to invest in the
future. Children are the future of our nation. Without them our
liberal democratic tradition will not continue. They represent
our legacy.
This government will help parents spend more time caring for
young children while ensuring that they have the resources to
meet their children's needs. Our plan will do this by reducing
income taxes for families, extending employment insurance
parental leave benefits and adding an additional $1.7 billion a
year to the national child benefit making it easier for low
income families to break the cycle of poverty.
We must also invest in today's youth. They are acquiring
knowledge and skills at an earlier age. They are at home in the
wired world using tools that are rapidly changing the way we
think. We are experiencing a technological revolution.
When I was younger we used to use our two feet to look for a
job. We would pound on the doors. We would pound the pavement.
Now our young adults can use the Internet to look for employment.
They can also shop, trade stocks, say hello to a relative, all
with the flick of a mouse. It has changed the way in which we
work. These youth need to be given the tools to succeed under
these conditions. Our plan will give Canadian youth an edge as
the technological revolution continues so that we will surpass
all other nations in the world when dealing with technology's
challenges.
Our plan will help Canada's youth realize their potential as
leaders. The government will help them learn about their country
and its citizens, use their skills to help others and use their
creativity to contribute to Canada's culture. This will be
achieved by drawing on the expertise of young Canadians to help
connect rural and urban communities to the information highway by
hiring our youth to put in place additional Internet access sites
for public use. This will increase the participation of rural
Canadians on the Internet while giving our youth valuable work
experience.
We will also give 100,000 young Canadians every year a chance to
learn about another part of the country through exchanges Canada.
This will solidify our youth as knowledgeable Canadians while
increasing their awareness of regional issues. Clearly
technology investment is a thoughtful investment for the future
of a strong Canadian federation and a strong Canadian youth.
But all of this investment in youth, in family and children
which I just spoke about is worthless if we do not have safe
strong communities, communities that are free of crime, and a
strong voluntary sector to tie them together.
1615
Strong communities rely on the participation of all members.
Our government is committed to strengthen this partnership with
communities and the voluntary organizations which contribute to
them. We will do this by developing a national accord with the
voluntary sector to lay the foundation for stronger partnerships
with voluntary organizations.
If I may take this a step further, our investment in communities
is part and parcel of our long term economic and social
well-being. Our investment in children and families is also a
long term investment. We are however at a loss if we do not
include the environment in our long term goal to enter the
millennium with force.
A clean and healthy environment is central to our quality of
life and as time progresses the demands that are made on mother
nature will become even more severe. The government recognizes
this and will continue to build partnerships at home and abroad
which focus on sustainable development and improve the quality of
the environment in our communities. We will set and enforce
tough pollution standards, reduce greenhouse gases, clean up
contaminated sites on federal lands and support innovative
clean-up technologies.
Canada has always symbolized a nation that appreciates the
environment. As we enter the 21st century we will continue this
tradition of environmental preservation by extending Canada's
national parks system.
The financial stability of Canadians is also very important as
we enter a new century. Financial freedom allows Canadians to
maximize their potential, gives them the freedom to grow and to
put something back into the country. Having said this, I cannot
stress how important it is that we receive tax relief. This is
the best way to give our economy a kickstart and to give the
children of the future a solid foundation on which to grow. We
cannot just provide children with a positive learning
environment; we must also give them the financial support in
which to flourish. To give our families more disposable income
so they can provide their children with the foundation to grow
will certainly make Canada the place to be in the 21st century.
Just recently I sent out questionnaires to my constituents
asking them what they thought we as a country could do to
increase our standard of living. I also asked them how we could
increase our productivity. Over 80% of the responses I have
received so far demand that the tax burden be reduced. It is
clear that we must give Canadians an incentive to build. I look
forward to our government's response to the overwhelming demand
that exists for tax relief.
In the Speech from the Throne Her Excellency the Governor
General addressed tax relief issues. Our government will put
more dollars in the hands of families with children. Our
government will also continue to create a better environment for
economic growth and enhanced productivity by reducing the debt
burden, initiating more tax cuts and making strategic
investments. The economic spinoff from a tax cut will add to the
economy. People who have more money at their disposal will
stimulate the demand for goods and in turn will create more jobs.
It is a win-win situation.
I would like to join the millions of Canadians who have embraced
our program. May we enjoy its benefits and grow as a nation as
we enter the 21st century.
The Speech from the Throne is an ingenious formula for success.
It contains measures that will strengthen elements of society so
that as we enter the millennium we will be the best country in
the world. Let me explain this.
Our families need a dynamic economy in which to raise their
children. We are giving them this through tax relief. Our
children need strong, safe communities in which to learn successfully.
Our government is giving them this. To learn successfully
children need a strong health care system and our government is
giving them this. Each of these realms promotes individual
development. Our plan promotes the maximization of individuals'
potential, young and old. Once we achieve success in every realm
of individual maximization our quality of life as Canadians will
improve and in turn our place in the world will improve.
It is quite clear that we are responding positively to the
daunting task of preparing Canada for the new millennium; and
yes, we are prepared.
[Translation]
Mr. Odina Desrochers (Lotbinière, BQ): Mr. Speaker, what is
amazing with this government is that it has a lot of money.
What is even more amazing, however, is that it does not have
money for this year or for the year 2000. This government is
suffering from the wait and see disease. We have to wait. And
what about people who are waiting for the government to do
something?
I ask my colleague opposite if he could make representations
within the Liberal caucus to get the government to bring forward
the implementation dates with regard to both parental leave and
the infrastructure program. This is another ambiguous issue.
The government says that studies will be conducted between now
and the end of the year 2000 and that maybe, in the 2001 budget,
it will be able to respond to the request made by
municipalities.
I ask my colleague opposite to be clearer and more precise than
the Prime Minister of Canada was yesterday.
1620
[English]
Mr. George Proud: Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for
the question. The government has laid out a plan for the future
and the next budget in February will lay out the details on the
tax cuts and other issues that have been raised.
He asked me if I would intervene. I am always intervening on
behalf of my constituents and on behalf of all Canadians to make
sure that the government does things as quickly as it can, but
there are rules it has to go by and it is going by those rules.
However, I am sure, as I have read in the headlines of the
papers over the past few days, that the people in Canada are very
pleased with the throne speech.
Mr. Rick Borotsik (Brandon—Souris, PC): Mr. Speaker, I
have always had a lot of respect for the hon. member for
Hillsborough. I know he is here for the right reasons, to do the
right things on behalf of his constituents. However, I have to
admit that his speech was fairly wishy-washy, if I can use that
term and it can be translated properly. It gives the impression
of warm and fuzzy. It gives the impression that there is nothing
wrong. It gives the impression that everybody is fat, dumb and
happy in this country of ours, so just sit back and do not worry
because things are being handled well.
He said that all of the newspaper headlines indicated how
wonderful the throne speech was. I wonder if he saw the
headlines recently about agriculture, which was not mentioned. I
wonder if he saw the headlines about transportation, which was
not mentioned in his speech, with respect to a potential monopoly
situation in the air. I wonder if he saw the headlines with
respect to the fisheries, where people are actually committing
violence against one another. Is that the type of Canada that he
sees, or does he not see that through his rose coloured glasses?
Does he not believe that it is the responsibility of his
government to try to come up with solutions to those issues?
Mr. George Proud: Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for
his questions. Yes, I have seen those headlines. I happen to
live in an area where some of those problems are taking place. I
have confidence that the government, as it has always done, will
take care of those problems.
The member heard in question period today the question on
agriculture. That has been taken care of. The question of the
native and non-native fishery is a very volatile problem and I
hope that cooler heads will prevail and that the government, the
native fishermen and the non-native fishermen can get together to
work out a solution.
I said that we live in a great country and that things are
great. Things have never been so good, but there are still a lot
of people suffering. That is why the government has come forward
with programs to help these people, with tax cuts, with child tax
benefits and with all of the things that will happen over the
next couple of years.
Mrs. Brenda Chamberlain (Guelph—Wellington, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I am pleased to take part in today's debate. It is an
important one.
This week's Speech from the Throne was great news for my riding
of Guelph—Wellington, and for all of Canada, quite frankly. It
outlined a commitment to protect and improve the social programs
we all hold very dear while not abandoning our commitment to
fiscal responsibility.
Fiscal responsibility is very important to all Canadians. When
the federal Liberals came to power in 1993 we inherited a deficit
of $42 billion. We know that the Conservative government did not
handle things very well, much to the sadness of every single
Canadian. Canadians from across Canada at that time left only
two Conservative members in this House. They said no, that the
Conservatives were not on the right track.
We refused to let this era of deficit spending continue. By
1998, just five short years later, we had not only balanced the
budget, we had posted a surplus of $3.5 billion. That is an
improvement of $45.5 billion. It is an accomplishment of which
every one of us can be proud because each Canadian helped to do
that.
1625
Obviously our balanced plan is working and we will continue to
pursue that plan because it is working.
The Speech from the Throne renews our commitment to fiscal
restraint. We have renewed our commitment to ensuring that the
nation's finances never get out of control again. We have
renewed our commitment to ensuring that the debt to GDP ratio
remains on a downward track. We have renewed our commitment to
continue cutting taxes while making strategic investments in this
country's future.
The Speech from the Throne contains a promise to further reduce
taxes. People in my own riding as well as many Canadians across
Canada have asked for that. We will put more money back into the
pockets of all Canadians.
The next budget will also lay out a multi-year plan for tax
reduction. This is important to my riding because
Guelph—Wellington has seen that this multi-year plan worked in
slaying the deficit and it will work in tax reduction also.
Targeted tax cuts and broad based tax cuts are both priorities
in my riding. I have done a survey in Guelph—Wellington and
that is what my constituents have told me. However, I also want
to stress that Guelph—Wellington believes, and I know many
Canadians across our great country agree, that we must not cut
taxes at the expense of our valued social programs. That would
be a serious mistake.
When asked where new spending should be directed, my
constituents identified post-secondary education as a priority.
I am pleased to report that our government is committed to
ensuring that Canada has a strong infrastructure to improve our
skills, promote innovation and conduct research. That is great
news for the University of Guelph.
The University of Guelph is a world class, world renowned
institution located in the heart of the golden technology
triangle. It is an important part of the academic community and
of our local community. Consequently, we are all very pleased
with the federal government's promise to increase support for
granting councils, enabling them to forge new partnerships with
universities and to attract more of the best research minds in
the world. This is very important to all Canadians. Places like
the University of Guelph do wonderful research that benefits all
Canadians in the areas of health, animal research—just name it,
we do it in Guelph.
This will be done through an innovative program called 21st
century chairs for research excellence. We will invest $60
million in the first year, $120 million in the second year, $180
million in the third year. The program will be ongoing, with the
goal of creating 12,000 positions in three years and 2,000 in the
very near future. It is fantastic.
The federal government also will foster greater international
research collaboration by Canadian universities, and research
institutes will help to expand Canadian scientific expertise in a
variety of areas. Legislation will be tabled to create Canadian
institutes of health research and the commercialization of
research from universities and government research centres. They
all will be improved.
The federal government will also work with our provincial
partners to develop an action plan that sets out common
principles, objectives and a funding framework for all
governments to increase their resources dedicated to
post-secondary education. Together we will find ways to ensure
that skills development keeps pace with the evolving economy and
makes it easier to finance lifelong learning. For anybody who
has worked in a community, we all know that lifelong learning is
absolutely paramount in this economy. It is very important.
The survey that I did also indicated that health care is very
important and on people's minds. People want access to quality
universal health care, and the factor really is a very high
quality of life. People want that. Our health care system
represents our society's belief in compassion and in caring. It
is one of our proudest national achievements and it is an example
for many other nations.
Many times we hear the Reform Party talk about the United States
and how wonderful the United States is. Canada's crime rate is
far below that of the United States and Canada's health care
system is much better than that of the United States. We are
certainly very blessed.
In the Speech from the Throne we have promised to strengthen the
federal government's own research and science capacity to better
protect the health and safety of Canadians.
We will strengthen the food safety program and take further steps
to address the health risks posed by pesticides and will table
legislation to modernize health protection.
1630
Over the next two years we will support our partners in testing
innovations in home care and pharmacare and integrated service
delivery, then consider what further significant investments need
to be made.
We will also build a modern health system to make health
information more accessible, not only to health professionals but
also to citizens like you, Mr. Speaker, and I.
More and more we are learning that the quality of our health is
affected by the state of our environment. Canadians have long
recognized that a clean and healthy environment is essential to
maintaining and enhancing our quality of life.
Guelph—Wellington is known for its environmentally friendly
practices, such as its state of the art wet and dry recycling
facility.
Just recently we had five members of parliament in attendance at
an event held at the recycling plant. This was really a great
show of support from the government for recycling and
environmental issues. I believe other communities can and will
learn from our example, especially given the federal government's
commitment to further developing and adopting green technology.
A clean and healthy environment is a wonderful legacy for our
children. Children are our future and Guelph—Wellington
believes that they deserve the best possible start in life. On
this issue once again the Speech from the Throne reflects the
priorities of my constituents.
The 1999 throne speech includes the commitment to help families
by cutting taxes and leaving more money in their pockets. The
federal government will also increase funding for the national
child benefit by 2002, further helping parents to provide for
their children. We will lengthen employment insurance benefits
for parental leave. Children always come first with the
government.
I am very proud of the Speech from the Throne. It reflects our
balanced approach, combining fiscal prudence with a commitment to
social programs. In a recent survey my people identified health
care, post-secondary education, tax cuts, the environment and the
future of our children. The throne speech has all of these
elements. The Prime Minister of Canada has listened to the
people of Guelph—Wellington again.
The throne speech lays out our path as we enter a new century
and a new millennium. The initiatives it outlines will help us
to maintain a dynamic economy, strengthen our communities and
further advance Canada's place in the world. I know that the
future holds many wonderful things for Canada. With the guidance
of the federal government, we will work together and achieve our
goals.
I would like to finish with a quote from our Prime Minister.
Yesterday He said “Canada belongs to the 21st century and Canada
will be the place to be in the 21st century. The world has seen
the future and it is Canada”.
Mr. John Herron (Fundy—Royal, PC): Mr. Speaker, I
listened very closely to hon. member's speech. She spent a high
degree of time raving about the government's environmental
concern.
Since the government took office, the environment has gone from
the sixth largest department to the twenty-first largest
department in government. This is also a government that waited
six years to pass its first environmental piece of legislation
since taking office, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act,
Bill C-32, which was not exactly a watershed bill. As the House
knows, the environmental members of the Liberal caucus, those
very learned members in terms of the members for Lac-Saint-Louis
and York North, all expressed concerns on that piece of
legislation.
My question is very simple. Does the hon. member think one
piece of legislation passed in six years is a watershed
leadership on environmental legislation?
Mrs. Brenda Chamberlain: Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in
my speech, there is no question that Guelph—Wellington has been
a leader in environmental concerns. Many communities have
studied our recycling wet-dry facility and many areas are
following our example.
The federal government has just put a huge amount of money into
that so that all communities can learn. The government has been
doing this consistently. It has been going across Canada and
putting money into projects that really do work and really make a
difference in all of our lives on a daily basis. In the end this
will benefit all of us and will leave a legacy for our children
that we can all be proud of.
1635
[Translation]
Mr. René Canuel (Matapédia—Matane, BQ): Mr. Speaker, the member
would have us believe that there are no problems in Canada or
almost none. She is certainly on the same wavelength as the
Prime Minister, who is constantly saying that Canada is the best
country in the world, that we are rich and that everything is
fine. He keeps repeating that like a parrot. It is not
necessarily true.
How is it that the government is offering so little, and nothing
before the year 2001? Between now and then, what is it offering
children? What is it offering the many teenagers across Canada
who take their own lives because there are problems? We must not
bury our heads in the sand. The truth must be told.
There are a lot of problems in Canada but the government prefers
not to see them, because that is less painful. What will be done
between now and the year 2001 since most programs will kick in
only after 2001?
[English]
Mrs. Brenda Chamberlain: Mr. Speaker, the hon. member
from Quebec said that we need to spell out the truth. He is
indeed quite right. We do need to spell out the truth.
We have a party across the way, the Bloc Quebecois, that wants
to break this beautiful country up. It is disgraceful because
the reality is that we do live in the best country in the world.
We have been named six times as the best country in the world. As
President Clinton said when he was here, I do not know of any
country where people can get along better by being on their own
and breaking a country up.
When Quebec needed help who helped it? Every province from
across Canada helped Quebec and it was happy to take that help.
The Bloc members should be ashamed of themselves. Do they want
to hear the truth? They should be proud Canadians and proud to
live in this great land of ours.
Mr. Rick Borotsik (Brandon—Souris, PC): Mr. Speaker, I
wanted to rebut the $42 billion but I will pass on that.
The member for Guelph—Wellington mentioned that she had five
Liberal MPs in her riding recently. Why could she not have had
those five Liberal MPs visit me over the past summer to see the
devastation of the farms, the loss of hope, the despair, the
depression and the violence within the families because of the
situation they are dealing with? Why could she not bring her
colleagues down to see that in her rosy little world?
Mrs. Brenda Chamberlain: Mr. Speaker, I will invite my
colleagues to go to my hon. colleague's riding.
I know there are serious problems in Canada, but there is no
question that we live in the greatest country in the world, bar
none. The reality is that the Liberal government will continue
on a path of trying very hard to make sure social problems are
addressed and that we are financially and fiscally responsible.
We pledge to that.
Mr. John Cummins (Delta—South Richmond, Ref.): Mr.
Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the Speech from the Throne
today. The issue I would like to address is the issue we
discussed last night in this place in the take note debate, in
particular the Marshall decision of the Supreme Court of Canada
and the suggestion I made to the minister that he go back to the
court to seek a stay of judgment and a rehearing of the case.
The reason I want to address that issue again is that the
intentions of my suggestion have been repeatedly misinterpreted
not only by the government but also by opposition members on this
side of the House, both Conservative and NDP.
It is sad that has happened because the reality is that if we do
not go back to the court, if we continue on the path that the
minister has taken, the minister will be sitting at the table
with no cards in his hands and no chips on the table.
1640
The fact is that the decision by the court has taken away the
minister's bargaining position. He has nothing to negotiate. The
court has very clearly allowed a native preference and a native
priority to fish as a result of this Marshall decision. The court
has very clearly stated that. It has also not imposed any limits
on it. The court has again said that natives have the right to
fish and earn a moderate living. The minister has in fact made
matters worse by suggesting that he will allow that right and
recognize it as a communal right.
The reality is then that rather than a fisher going out and
earning a moderate living from that fishery, it could very well
be expected that moderate living could apply to all the Mi'kmaq
in the maritimes, all 12,000 and some-odd of them. If one out of
four of those Mi'kmaq decides to exercise the right that the
court has granted, there will be no room at all for anyone else
in that fishery. That is the pure, hard, cold facts of the
matter.
The disappointment I had with the debate last night was that
nobody seemed to be speaking for the current participants in this
fishery. Nobody in the House was addressing a concern about
those people.
An hon. member: You did.
Mr. John Cummins: My colleague says I did. Yes, I did,
but it seemed that I was a voice in the wilderness in this place.
If the federal government believes that non-native fishermen
have a place in this newly defined fishery, it ought to say so.
If the Governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward
Island and indeed Quebec believe that non-aboriginal fishermen
have a place in this newly mandated fishery, they ought to say
so. If other members of the House believe that non-aboriginal
fishers have a place in this fishery, they had better say so.
It is going to take more than just saying so. It is going to
take convincing the minister to go back to the court to seek a
stay of judgment. The reason for that is quite simple. If he
goes back and seeks that stay of judgment, it is going to give
him some bargaining chips. He will have something on the table
in front of him that will allow him to negotiate from a position
of strength. As it is now, he has nothing. The courts have
given the proverbial ranch away.
The question is: how outrageous is this request to seek a stay
of judgment? Is it somehow trying to avoid the decision? Is it
somehow trying to work around the decision and avoid it? No, it
is not. The stay of judgment is asking the court to back off to
allow for a cooling off period. It is asking the court to define
its intentions with regard to, for example, a moderate
livelihood, and to define or clarify whether non-status natives
are going to be covered by this decision.
This would give some guidelines for the minister to take to the
negotiating table. This would allow the minister to bargain from
a position of knowledge. If no effort is made to define the
rights of non-status natives, if there is no effort made to
define whether or not the courts were including them as people to
be covered by this treaty, it is best to know that now because as
sure as the Lord made little green apples that matter will end up
in the Supreme Court of Canada.
If it is not done now at the request of the minister, it will be
done two or three years from now. It will be there. We could
have two or three years of negotiation with the Mi'kmaq people to
try to find a place for non-aboriginal fishermen in the newly
mandated fishery, and after two or three years of debate find all
of that tossed out the window because all of a sudden we have
about another some 36,000 non-status natives at the table as well
saying that they too have a priority right to fish as a result of
this treaty.
1645
It is critical that a decision is made to go back to the court.
That decision has to be made within the next three days, because
the government had 30 days from the time the decision came down
to ask for a stay of proceedings and for this redefinition. If
the government allows that time to go by without making
application, it has lost it. There is nothing on the table. The
minister has given it up. He has walked away. He has turned his
back on fishermen in the maritimes. It is as simple as that.
Why my request would be denied by the NDP and by the
Conservatives is beyond me. Why they would deny strengthening
the minister's hand so he could clarify the situation that is
before us, so he could determine the level of participation of
non-aboriginal fishermen in this fishery, is beyond me. Why
would they deny guaranteeing non-aboriginal fishermen access to
this fishery?
As I said, there is no guarantee now that there will be room for
non-aboriginal fishermen if this decision goes unchallenged.
Clearly the Mi'kmaq could use up the total access that we now
have to the resource. There is no question at all that they have
a priority right to that fish and could very well utilize the
total allowable catch we now have.
The request that I made is not outrageous. Last night the
member for Vancouver Quadra mentioned an article by Jeffrey
Simpson which appeared in the Globe and Mail. In that
article Mr. Simpson was referencing the 1954 decision of the U.S.
supreme court in Brown v the Board of Education at Topeka. That
particular ruling challenged the separate but equal doctrine
which had allowed for the segregation of educational institutions
in the southern United States. It declared that separate
educational facilities were inherently unequal.
I would like to apply that consideration to the decision the
supreme court reached in the Marshall case. That information
should be presented to the court when we ask for this stay,
because I do not think it was the intention of the court to
create this separate but equal fishery.
If we look at the Gladstone decision of the Supreme Court of
Canada, that decision gave the Heiltsuk band of the central coast
of British Columbia the right to fish herring roe on kelp. It
said they had an inherent right to fish herring roe on kelp, but
at the same time it acknowledged that others had also acquired
rights.
If the government went back to the court it would acknowledge
that others have rights. I would advise the government to seek
that balance and perhaps some give some guidance on how that
balance could be achieved. Unless the government seeks the stay,
I do not think we will have the benefit of that advice from the
courts.
Mr. John Bryden (Wentworth—Burlington, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I appreciated the remarks of the member because I too am
deeply troubled by the supreme court decision in the Marshall
case.
1650
I do not agree with him however that we should seek a stay and
go back to the courts for interpretation. I suggest to the hon.
member that the courts have already done enough damage with their
decisions. To leave it to the courts to determine what a
moderate livelihood is would be like a game of Russian roulette.
I am afraid parliament and both sides of the dispute will be the
ones who will suffer from it.
I address my remark to the member. My own feeling is that
surely the better way to approach this problem is for parliament,
through its elected government and through the Minister of
Fisheries and Oceans, to put his own interpretation on moderate
livelihood and apply that interpretation. That court decision is
so vague. As somebody who has spent my life in words, I find
that the judges have actually put words into a treaty that did
not exist and used that as a basis for an interpretation. It
really reduces this place to insignificance when courts can apply
judgments to laws that we have not created, as they have done in
this case with the British treaty of 1760.
I ask the member, if it were a choice, is it not better for the
government to act swiftly and unilaterally and do its own
interpretation?
Mr. John Cummins: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments
of the member opposite. Yes, it would be beneficial if the
government could act unilaterally and fix this problem.
Unfortunately it cannot. The supreme court has stated what the
law of the land is, and the law of the land gives the Mi'kmaq a
priority right to commercial fish. The only right the minister
has to interfere is the right to interfere in the interest of
conservation. That is the only way he can interfere in this
matter.
The court looked at the current regulations in place and struck
them down. It said that those regulations interfered with the
treaty right and therefore they had no place.
What is interesting is that we arrived at this situation not
unwittingly. The information that we present to the court
enables the court to make decisions. It will make a decision in
our favour against it, if we want to look at in those terms, but
if we do not give the court the information we are at its mercy.
Not only must we give them the information, but we have to be
careful if we make any concessions. The government made two
critical concessions when it argued this case before the supreme
court.
In the first one the crown's expert witness described the
prohibition on Mi'kmaq trading with others and the restriction
that they only trade at truck houses. The crown's expert witness
allowed that that could be interpreted by the courts as somehow a
right to trade. It was anything but a right to trade. It was a
restriction on a trading right, but the crown allowed that
restriction on a trading right could be interpreted as a right to
trade.
The second mistake the crown made was that this treaty did not
mention fish as a trading item. Fish had no value as a trading
item and was readily available to anybody. Yet the crown allowed
and the government allowed that fish could be included as a
trading commodity. From a restriction on trading, from a treaty
in which fish was not mentioned at all, we arrived at a place
where preferential right to fish has been given.
We have a very difficult situation. It is easy to criticize the
supreme court and I have done it because it deserves to give this
situation the sober second thought that it did not get by the
government.
There are other issues the government did not mention that are
worth mentioning. Since the signing of the Magna Carta in
British common law there has existed something called the public
right to fish. That public right to fish was in operation at the
time this treaty was signed. This treaty ignored that public
right. That should have been brought to the attention of the
government because there was nothing done when this treaty was
signed to revoke the public right. The government should have
brought that to the court's attention. It did not and that has
been allowed to stand since that time.
1655
Mr. Leon E. Benoit (Lakeland, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I am
pleased to speak in response to the throne speech on the issue of
immigration.
Immigration issues were some of the issues that were in the
forefront. Certainly they were issues that were most important
to Canadians over this past summer. Yet it received only five
words in the throne speech, five words that were tucked away in a
long statement. Clearly the government is out of touch with
Canadians when it comes to dealing with issues that are important
to them. The government has shown this by its neglect in the
throne speech.
There was not even a broad statement in the throne speech on
what the government intends to do with immigration. That is real
neglect on the government's part. Just to back this up, Angus
Reid released a poll yesterday which shows that when we look at
issues most important to Canadians right now, health care is the
number one issue and immigration is the number two issue across
the country, tied with taxes. We all know that taxes are of high
importance to Canadians. They want taxes to be lowered.
Twenty per cent of Canadians see immigration as the most
important issue to them, up from 3% in the last poll that Angus
Reid did. I believe the reason for this is that Canadians have
recognized the government's bungling in terms of dealing with the
issue of illegal migrants over this past summer, in particular
illegal migrants coming by boat, although certainly at the
airports and borders as well. Only 5% to 10% of all people who
come illegally to our country come by boat. The rest come
through the airports or across the borders.
Canadians have finally recognized that our government losing
control over people coming into the county is a real threat to
national security. It is a true threat to national security. I
believe this issue has moved up to occupy second place when it
comes to issues of importance to Canadians.
If we look at cities like Vancouver and Toronto, immigration
right now is by far the most important issue to people in those
cities. It is an issue which the government completely ignored
despite having 41 of 43 seats in the greater Toronto area and
having seats in the Vancouver area. I think it is really
shameful neglect.
Our immigration system today is dysfunctional, not only in terms
of dealing with people coming into the country illegally but also
in terms of dealing with those that we want to attract through
our immigration system the people who are designated as people
Canada wants to attract by the immigration department. Our
system is completely dysfunctional when it comes to those people
we want to attract and that is what I intend to talk about today.
I want to start with the government's handling of the whole
issue of illegal migration over the summer. With this summer's
arrival of illegal migrants by boat, about 600, which represents
only 5% to 10% of illegal migration, what was the government's
response? The government's response to this very serious breach
of national security, this loss of control over our borders, was
silence.
After prodding from the official opposition and from Canadians
across the country the minister said “I am going to expedite the
system. I am going to make it so that the people coming by boat
illegally will have a hearing within six to seven months rather
than the eleven month average we have now”. That is only the
initial hearing. It has nothing to do with appeals. That
timeframe does not include appeals. An appeal could take a year
or more beyond that. We have seen appeals lasting for years and
years. It is not that uncommon any more.
The government's response was to expedite the process. That
process has been expedited so much that as of last week out of
the roughly 600 people who came by boat only 4 have gone through
the process. I am talking about just the initial hearing. We
have had no appeals so far.
1700
What is the significance of this system taking so long? The
significance is certainly high to Canadians generally, and to
those who have had their lives put into limbo through this
process that is so dreadfully slow.
We have people who have come to this country believing in many
cases that they are coming to establish a new life. Certainly
they know that they are using illegal means to get here in most
cases, but they do not understand that they will be led into a
life of servitude, that they will be a part of a virtual slave
trade, the new slave trade. For this to be happening is
shameful. We will look back in history 30 or 40 years from now
and wonder how Canada could have been so negligent in handling
this situation.
The people who have come will have their lives put on hold for
months and years, and then many will be deported back to their
countries of origin. What will be left for them two or three
years down the road? I would suggest very little.
In the meantime, what about Canadian taxpayers? They are
footing the bill for this system that is not functioning well at
all. They are paying millions and millions of dollars because
the process is so slow and so flawed. It is shameful. By
ignoring this in the throne speech the government has
demonstrated that it is just not willing to deal with tough
issues such as this. I think we need a government that will show
some leadership.
Members of the Reform Party do not only criticize, we also
propose positive solutions. What we proposed over the summer,
and in fact over the past six years, is that first we should
detain all people coming to this country until their hearings,
but that the hearings be held within days or weeks rather than
months or years as is now commonly the case. Then, once a
determination has been made, it should be acted upon. The people
who are found to be genuine refugees we should help to settle in
our country. However, people who are found to be bogus refugees
should be deported immediately. That is what we have called for.
We have also called for the people smugglers to be dealt with
firmly. They are the people who are initiating this activity,
who are most often members of organized crime, and the people who
actually operate people smuggling rings.
Yesterday in the House the minister said that Canada has some of
the toughest laws on this issue. I do not know what she was
comparing us with, because in fact we have extremely weak laws in
terms of dealing with people smugglers when compared with the
United States, Australia or other countries. Not only that, the
maximum 10 year sentence has never been implemented. The maximum
sentence that has ever been imposed on someone involved in people
smuggling in this country is somewhere around three years. That
is completely unacceptable and it clearly demonstrates a lack of
leadership by this government.
I would like to speak next about this system not working for the
people for whom it is intended to work. There are three streams
of immigration. The first stream is the independent category,
which is made up of people who come because they have special
education or special skills, or because they are going to invest
in a business or operate a business.
The second stream is the refugee stream. Most experts would
suggest that through our refugee stream probably 60% are bogus
refugees. They are not legitimate refugees as laid out in the UN
convention on refugees.
The third stream is family reunification of both of these
previous groups.
I would ask if any member of the House could honestly say that
they do not have a huge problem in their constituency when it
comes to processing people whom we desperately need in this
country, those people who bring a special skill or education, or
reuniting them with their families from their countries of
origin, or reuniting a Canadian with someone they have recently
married. I know that not one member of the House would say
honestly that the system is not so badly broken that it is not
working for these very people for whom it is intended to work.
Not only is the system not working for those it is intended to
work for, it has been a disaster in terms of screening people for
whom it is not intended to work.
It should be clear to Canadians that we need leadership on this
issue. We are not getting it from the government. I implore the
government to deal with this issue. If it will not, and I assume
it will not—it has shown no will to do that—then we will when
we form the government in two years.
1705
Mr. John Bryden (Wentworth—Burlington, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I want to reassure the member for Lakeland that there
are those on this side of the House who share some of the views
he has just expressed about the urgency of coming to grips with
the problem of the migrants on the west coast.
In my six years in the House I think I have only once heard a
suggestion from the Reform Party that I fully agreed with and
that was the suggestion that the migrants should be detained
until their cases are disposed of and it is determined whether
they are refugees or not.
This seems like a harsh thing to do. We are actually keeping
people confined, as they would be in any kind of detention, which
is a type of jail. The alternative is too much to even
contemplate. What we are really dealing with is trafficking in
human beings. So long as these people are released back into the
community—and I know the Department of Immigration has already
experienced this—they are immediately drawn into absolute
slavery. The condition of their passage is to work it off in one
manner or another.
In that sense I think the hon. member is entirely correct, even
though the prospect of detaining people is very unpalatable to
anyone who wants to give people the benefit of the doubt and
freedom in the process thereof.
While I am certainly in agreement that the refugee system needs
fixing, I do have to acknowledge that the problem really is with
the charter of rights, which unfortunately gives the full rights
of citizenship to anyone who sets foot on Canadian soil. It is
that which is the root cause of the problem. I wonder if the
member would comment on that.
Mr. Leon E. Benoit: Mr. Speaker, the member has hit on a
key point. The Singh decision and other decisions have said that
those who arrive at our borders or even in territorial waters are
entitled to the full set of rights that a citizen would be
entitled to. I believe that decision does have and impact on
this situation.
However, I believe that even with those restrictions in place,
this government, if it had the will, could speed up the process
to the point that it could process people coming illegally in
days or weeks rather than months or years as is now the case.
Then detention is not such a big issue. People then are detained
for days or weeks. If they choose to appeal it could be longer,
but we could speed up the appeals process rather than detaining
them for months or years. Therefore we deal with both problems.
We also deal with sending the message to those involved in
people smuggling that if they want to make money smuggling people
into Canada they are no longer going to be able to do it because,
by gosh, Canada deals with these situations quickly, firmly and
we act on the hearings while still respecting the UN convention
on refugees.
I believe we can respect the UN convention on refugees fully. I
believe we can get around the Singh decision, which I believe was
a very bad decision, and the other decisions and speed up the
process to the point that it will work quite well.
I would further say that if necessary, and I do not believe it
is necessary, this government should invoke the notwithstanding
clause to override the Singh decision and to give control over
immigration back to the Government of Canada, to the elected
representatives of the people of Canada. The courts should not be
making law in this country.
It is interesting that the member who spoke before me talked
about the courts making law and I am talking about the courts
making law, saying that is clearly wrong in a democracy. Let us
give control over policy issues back to the government. The
government could take it back. It would be rare that it would
involve invoking the notwithstanding clause. It just takes the
will on the part of government.
1710
Hon. David Anderson (Minister of the Environment, Lib.):
Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to see you in the chair. The
new session has started well with you gracing our presence.
I am also happy to have the opportunity to take part in the
debate on the Speech from the Throne, a speech which was read by
our new Governor General, Her Excellency Madam Clarkson, on
Tuesday. I join with all members of the House, and of course
with yourself, Mr. Speaker, in congratulating her on her new role
and in wishing her the very best in the years ahead as Her
Majesty's representative in Canada.
Since I have also been given a new role in the federal cabinet,
I am pleased to take part in this debate and to have the chance
to talk about an issue that I have been connected with all my
life, that of protecting the environment.
[Translation]
As we heard in the throne speech, Canadians understand very well
that the high quality of life we enjoy in this country, as well
as our health and the health of future generations, depends on a
clean and safe environment.
Canadians also understand that the quality of our environment is
closely linked to that of the world environment. They
understand clearly that any progress in this area requires
initiatives to be taken on both the national and the
international level.
The Liberal government intends to make environmental issues
central to Canadian public life in coming weeks and months. To
that end, we are going to take action on a number of different
fronts, and to step up our environmental protection measures.
[English]
As I am sure hon. members fully appreciate, the Government of
Canada does not have jurisdiction over all environmental and
species protection issues in this country. That is why we will
be working in close, harmonious partnership with provincial
governments, municipalities, first nations, the academic
community, the business community, environmental groups and, of
course, individual Canadians who are concerned. We no longer
have the luxury of pretending that environmental questions amount
to a zero sum game of jurisdictional tradeoffs, a game where a
win for the environment is somehow a loss for business, or a win
for business is a loss for the environment, or a win for the
provinces is a loss for the federal government and so on.
We must reinforce the fact that a clean environment, human
health and a strong economy go hand in hand and that we must
work together to achieve those common goals. Therefore, I will
be working closely with my provincial counterparts because in
many areas we share responsibility for protecting the
environment. I believe that provincial action can be influenced
by the federal government even in situations beyond our strict
constitutional jurisdiction.
The Government of Canada has an overarching responsibility to
protect the environment and the health of all Canadians. That is
a responsibility we are committed to upholding in all areas, from
species protection to climate change, to providing cleaner air
and cleaner water, to controlling toxic substances, to developing
green technologies for our industries, to meeting our
international commitments and promoting eco-efficient practices
within the government and throughout our society and our economy.
With respect to species protection, for example, there is a long
history of co-operation among the federal, provincial and
territorial governments through such things as the designation of
protected areas, implementing international wildlife agreements
and a commitment to biodiversity.
In 1996, some three years ago, wildlife ministers agreed to the
accord for the protection of species at risk. I am pleased, in
fact I am delighted, that all governments in this country have
agreed that any species protection legislation must include
provisions for the protection of the critical habitat of
endangered species. This is absolutely fundamental: no habitat,
no species.
We are now working under that accord with our provincial
colleagues to develop stewardship programs and other
collaborative and voluntary measures to protect species at risk.
One such program is the Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery
Foundation which is close to my home on Vancouver Island.
Environment Canada is working with the B.C. Ministry of the
Environment, Lands and Parks, B.C. Hydro, MacMillan Bloedel, the
forestry company, the World Wildlife Fund, the Toronto and
Calgary zoos and many others to try to save one of this country's
most endangered species from extinction. I believe the Vancouver
Island marmot is North America's most endangered mammal.
1715
The federal legislation to protect species at risk mentioned in
the Speech from the Throne will complement and strengthen
provincial legislation with programs and voluntary initiatives.
The federal approach aims to build on the excellent efforts to
protect endangered species which are already being made and
measures already being taken by so many individuals and groups. I
salute them.
The only sustainable way to preserve species and their habitats
is to ensure that appropriate incentives and knowledge are
available to encourage each Canadian to do the right and
responsible thing. We expect this to work in the vast majority
of cases but when it does not, prohibitions must be available to
prevent extinction and critical habitat destruction.
[Translation]
We are also working to protect our water resources. Protecting
Canada's fresh water is not a question of economics or trade; it
is a question of ecology.
Water is vital to human health, for our ecosystems, agriculture
and industry. Canada's sovereignty over its water resources is
total. Water in its natural state is not a commodity, and
therefore not covered by NAFTA.
In order to ensure an enforceable Canada wide solution using an
ecosystem approach, we are working jointly on an agreement under
the terms of which each jurisdictional area would establish
laws, regulations or policies prohibiting the removal of large
quantities of water from Canadian water basins, including for
export.
That includes federal legislative measures through amendments to
the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act. They will be
introduced this fall and will give the federal government the
legislative authority to prohibit the removal of large
quantities of water from bodies of boundaries water, such as the
Great Lakes.
[English]
We have also made a request with the United States to have the
International Joint Commission study how water consumption
removals and diversions could affect our Great Lakes. Our
objective here is not to plan for removal but to provide a basis
for ensuring a consistent management regime for water shared with
the United States.
Mr. Speaker, I know that your riding is at the end of the Great
Lakes and the beginning of the St. Lawrence River. I am pleased
to report to you that the interim report of the commission which
was released in August supports our strategy and agrees that
removals are harmful to the ecosystems that they support.
The report recommends an immediate moratorium on bulk water
removals until the full report is completed, which we expect to
be early next year. The commission is consulting widely with
Great Lakes communities through public meetings which are
currently under way.
Canadians are especially concerned about air quality. Residents
in many areas are subjected to unacceptable air pollution caused
by ground level ozone and airborne particles which combine with
other air pollutants to produce smog. That is particularly so in
our urban centres.
1720
We have taken several measures to reduce smog over the last few
years but I have to say a great deal remains to be done. For
example, measures are now being taken to reduce the level of
sulphur in gasoline. We want to reduce those levels by 90% by
2005. Why? Because the health benefits alone will be of
enormous benefit to Canadians.
An independent panel of health and environmental experts
predicts that a reduction to that level would prevent some 2,100
premature deaths, 92,000 incidents of bronchitis in children,
five million other health related incidents such as asthma
attacks, and eleven million acute respiratory symptoms, such as
severe coughs and new cases of pneumonia and croup. That would
be over a 20 year period. With those figures I wonder whether
anyone could argue that those steps should not be taken to
protect the health of Canadians. I do not think many would.
[Translation]
It also gives me satisfaction to be able to note that the
government is determined to work with provincial governments and
other levels of government to improve the country's physical
infrastructure in the coming century. We must ensure that our
increased trade and our improved economy are matched by an
increased capacity to move people and things in complete safety.
In order to maintain the quality of life in our cities and rural
communities, we must ensure our air and water are clean.
[English]
Under the last two infrastructure programs the Government of
Canada, the provinces and the municipalities invested hundreds of
millions of dollars in water treatment and sewage management to
protect our waterways and the health of Canadians. We are
committed to work with other levels of government and the private
sector to reach by the end of next year agreement on a five year
plan for improving the physical infrastructure in urban and rural
regions across our country.
This agreement will set out shared principles, objectives and
fiscal parameters for all partners to increase their resources
directed toward infrastructure, with a particular focus on the
environment, as well as health and safety, transportation,
tourism, telecommunications and culture. I would like to describe
this program that we will be developing as a green infrastructure
program because I am sure that when we examine the needs of this
country that in fact is the way it will be.
I would like to say a word about contaminated sites. We will be
dealing with the clean-up of contaminated sites and how we can
improve our performance in that area. That again was mentioned
in Her Excellency's speech. I must warn Canadians that this will
be a long term program. We have had, as reported by the
environment commissioner, starts and stops before. I want to see
a clear outline, a program, to achieve substantial clean-up of
our contaminated sites over the next 20 years.
Recently we have committed some $38 million to the clean-up of
the Sydney tar ponds which is Canada's most contaminated site.
Of course more will be required on the financial side and more
will have to be done. There are literally thousands of
contaminated sites which are under federal jurisdiction,
thousands more under provincial jurisdiction and many which we
describe as orphan sites where there is an abandoned mine and
there is no possibility of finding an organization which will
pick up the clean-up costs.
The tar ponds remind us of why we must change our approach to
the environment. We need to prevent pollution before it occurs
rather than paying the enormous costs which sometimes result from
clean-up after the fact. That is why we must be more diligent in
conducting our environmental assessments.
It is why we have made pollution prevention the cornerstone of
the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, or CEPA.
1725
The renewed CEPA provides the government with stronger powers to
protect the environment and therefore human health. Essentially
it marks a shift from after the fact clean-up to proactive
prevention. After investing a very lengthy period of more than
five years in renewing this legislation, I believe we can now
move forward on implementing stronger environmental protection to
give Canadians the cleaner environment that they deserve.
I announced two or three weeks ago that $72 million would be put
forward in new funding to strengthen our scientific and
enforcement capacity under the new CEPA. This is in addition to
the $40 million that was announced earlier this year to conduct
scientific research into toxic substances that harm human health
and the environment, including endocrine disrupters, the
so-called gender benders and toxics that may have serious effects
on all species, including the human species.
[Translation]
Under the act, all substances currently used in Canada will be
examined for their level of toxicity. As well, the act provides
firm deadlines for the control of toxic products and requires
the virtual elimination of the most dangerous ones.
The act gives Environment Canada officials significant new
powers to act with respect to a polluter breaking the law.
It will also help Canada honour a number of international
environmental commitments and enable people to initiate
proceedings if the federal government does not ensure compliance
with the law.
[English]
The act includes new provisions for regulating vehicles and
fuels and new abilities to regulate less traditional sources of
air pollution such as lawn mowers and off-road vehicles. The
government has already begun discussions with manufacturers of
these devices so as to reduce toxic emissions and greenhouse
gases. We are committed to clean air. We are prepared to take
the action necessary to prevent the build-up of greenhouse gases
that are responsible in part for climate change.
This may eventually mean some changes in lifestyle choices for
many Canadians, but I am confident that Canadians understand
there will be even greater adverse lifestyle changes if we do not
take action at the present time on this problem.
On climate change, in 1997 Canada joined with 160 other nations
in negotiating the Kyoto protocol on climate change. We set a
target of reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases to 6% below
the 1990 levels. This would be achieved in the years between
2008 and 2012. Incidentally, that target was announced by the
Prime Minister.
The fact that other countries have agreed to comparable
reduction targets does not make the 6% reduction any less
ambitious or challenging for an energy dependent country such as
Canada. To meet these targets, given the projected growth in our
economy and population, we will have to reduce our greenhouse gas
emissions by approximately 25% below the business as usual
projected levels for 2010. Those targets cannot be reached
without significant changes to the way our economy functions and
to our lives as individuals.
The scope of these challenges must not prevent us or delay us
from taking appropriate action now, because one of the most
dangerous attitudes toward climate change is that because there
is still some scientific uncertainty we should do little or
nothing. The most credible evidence that we have available tells
us that climate change due to human activity is a reality.
I could give more on climate change. I have many pages in my
speech explaining the problem and giving examples of it.
I will simply say that I will be happy to discuss this with the
member over lunch some time. I am sure the member agrees it is
important to make sure we have a system that is acceptable to
Canadians which achieves the goals in question.
1730
Many opportunities will be provided by our environmental
programs such as developing new environmental technologies. The
opportunities for export, et cetera, are there. Therefore we
have many provisions which again could be mentioned, but I will
pass over them quickly and simply say that we will find economic
opportunities which will flow from our efforts to improve the
environment in Canada.
In conclusion, Canadians understand the linkages between the
environment and health and between environment and economic
growth. They understand that we need to have development and
growth. That has to be sustainable in the future. They also
understand that we must act decisively or in essence we will be
guilty of robbing our children and grandchildren of a safe,
secure and prosperous future. I am sure all members of the House
will actively support our actions in this regard.
Mr. Reed Elley (Nanaimo—Cowichan, Ref.): Mr. Speaker,
this minister and his B.C. Liberal sidekicks have shown very
little regard for the problems and rights of the vast majority of
B.C. citizens.
First, there is the expropriation of the provincial land at
Nanoose Bay in the face of incredible opposition, something never
done before in Canadian history. Second, there is the lack of
protection of B.C.'s children by their appalling inaction on the
court's decision on child pornography. Third, and I address this
to the former minister of fisheries, over a period of time they
have failed to effectively solve the problem of the preservation
of the salmon stocks on the west coast and have downsized the
fleet so that hundreds of fishermen and their families are
bankrupt. Fourth, there has been inaction on closing the
loopholes on Canada's immigration laws that saw hundreds of
illegal immigrants come to the shores of Vancouver Island this
summer. Fifth, there is a total lack of compassion for
non-native residents on Musqueam lands who will soon be kicked
out of there homes. I can go on and on, but I think that is
enough.
Why should the people of B.C. have any confidence in the Liberal
promises made in the throne speech when they have that appalling
record before them?
Hon. David Anderson: Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon.
member that in poll after poll the Liberal Party in British
Columbia receives double the support of his party. If these
issues are so important to the people of British Columbia as he
has described them, he should recognize the people of British
Columbia recognized that the balanced approach of the government
to improve expenditures on health care and on the social side,
the reduction in taxes and in debt, is the appropriate way for
Canada to go, and that this is very beneficial to British
Columbia.
Were he correct, his party might perhaps have more support than
it currently does. He is a member of a party whose own leader
thinks the party should disintegrate and disappear. When we
compare that side to this one, no wonder we have the support of
sensible British Columbians, which the vast majority are. They
are firmly on the side of the government party. Poll after poll
in the last many months have shown our support to be double that
of Reform.
Clearly he does not represent the people of British Columbia.
Clearly he does not understand the issues affecting British
Columbia. Clearly he is continuing to put the Reform Party ahead
of the interests of British Columbia. That is why he and his
friends are so consistently rejected by the people of British
Columbia.
[Translation]
Ms. Jocelyne Girard-Bujold (Jonquière, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I
listened very closely to the new Minister of the Environment. I
am very happy to hear him say that he wants to take action, but
I think he has forgotten to check Bill C-32, which was passed in
the House last spring. Under this legislation, the Liberal
government will no longer be consulting the provinces. It has
decided to set national environmental standards.
1735
For his part, the minister says he is going to consult so as not
to interfere in areas of provincial jurisdiction.
The minister also tells us he is going to take action
immediately. But there is a big problem in Canada right now.
Canada wants to import plutonium from Russia and the United
States. I have not heard what our Minister of the Environment
has to say about that.
Right now, Canada is flying in the face of everything other
countries are doing. It wants to put more energy into getting
nuclear power plants to burn plutonium.
I would like to know where the Minister of the Environment
stands on this, and if all Canadians and parliamentarians will
have a say before Canada makes a decision on this issue.
Hon. David Anderson: Mr. Speaker, first I thank the hon. member
for Jonquière for her questions.
Her first question was about co-operation between the federal and
provincial governments. I can assure the hon. member that I have
already had meetings with provincial ministers. We have had very
productive discussions on endangered species. We all shared the
same views, as I mentioned in my speech. We set the objectives
three years ago. The purpose of the meetings held a few weeks
ago was to discuss ways to achieve the goals that we set
together.
There is truly a great deal of co-operation between the various
levels of government, because we know that Canadians want us to
take action. They do not want us to carry on constitutional
debates. They want concrete action on the environment, not
constitutional debates.
[English]
The second thing that she mentioned was the issue of the very
small amount of weapons grade plutonium, the MOx which is to be
burned in the Chalk River reactor.
The reason this is important is that the world has literally
tens of thousands of nuclear weapons that are rusting in former
soviet union territories and need to be disposed of, to be
eliminated. We have to take risks. It is true that she is
correct. There can be very minor risks related to
transportation, but if we are not willing to take the small risk
to achieve a much greater gain for society our children and
grandchildren will know that we have failed because we simply are
delaying a problem to them.
This is a very important issue. It is truly an example of the
biblical injunction to beat the swords into ploughshares, to
destroy weapons for good. Can we think of anything more symbolic
of turning evil into good than turning these weapons of mass
destruction into light and power for human use? Is there
anything more symbolic of the type of thing we should be doing?
Yes, I admit to the member that there are risks, but I challenge
her to think also of the risks of doing nothing. The worst thing
we can commit as legislators is to simply say there is a problem
and do nothing, leave it alone, ignore it, let our children have
the problem and inherit something much worse than if we dealt
with it now.
Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg—Transcona, NDP): Mr.
Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. I
know he referred to this in his speech but perhaps he could
clarify it.
Just what is the government's intention with respect to how it
plans to live up to the motion passed in the House in February
this year having to do with the government placing an immediate
moratorium on the export of bulk freshwater shipments and
interbasin transfers and, according to the motion, introducing
legislation to prohibit bulk freshwater exports and interbasin
transfers?
I know the minister has spoken about boundary waters, but this
motion actually talked about a national ban, not 10 separate
provincial bans which would not be undesirable. At the same that
is not the motion that was passed and not the motion the
government supported.
The motion that was passed called for a national ban on the bulk
export of water.
1740
I asked the government House leader today under House business
whether there was legislation forthcoming. He said as far as he
knew there was. I would like to ask the minister if he could
clarify just what we can expect in this regard by way of national
legislation, a national ban, because as he knows the provinces,
particularly Newfoundland of late—
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): I am sorry to
interrupt. The hon. the minister will have about a minute to
respond.
Hon. David Anderson: Mr. Speaker, once again I thank the
hon. member for an excellent question. I will go a lot further
than he proposes. We will be having a meeting of provincial
ministers and myself, because as I mentioned to the hon. member
for Jonquière we believe in the importance of co-operation in
this regard and many aspects of control of water are provincial.
We will move together with them through the accord. As the hon.
member has correctly mentioned, in the last few days Newfoundland
has come on board of the accord concept for the elimination of
exports. We are delighted with that.
In addition, I am going further by discussing with them not just
the elimination of exports of bulk water. I should distinguish
between bulk water exports and containers of water, which are a
different matter. In addition, we do not believe there should be
any major diversions from watershed to watershed whether or not
they cross international boundaries.
We will be discussing with the provinces an accord which
essentially lives up to the International Joint Commission report
of the Great Lakes area but in addition deals with the issue of
interbasin transfers for water beyond just exports.
Mr. Myron Thompson: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of
order. It is seldom that we are able to have some time to
question a minister regarding some of these issues. As
incompetent as some of them are, I am sure that all of us would
agree to another 10 minutes of questioning of the minister with
agreement from the House.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): The hon. the member
for Wild Rose has requested the unanimous consent of the House to
extend the period provided for questions and comments by 10
minutes. Is there unanimous consent?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
Some hon. members: No.
[Translation]
Ms. Hélène Alarie (Louis-Hébert, BQ): Mr. Speaker, it is a good
thing that we have an opportunity to discuss the throne speech
delivered earlier this week and entitled “Building a higher
quality of life for all Canadians”.
When I look at that title, certain questions come to mind. The
first one is: Who was left out of this speech?
Of course, since I take a particular interest in the agri-food
sector, I must tell you that I have the distinct feeling that
agriculture was completely left out in this speech. One would
need a magnifying glass or would have to be an expert at
criscross puzzles to find something that applies directly to
agriculture.
On the contrary, even with this magnifying glass, I can hardly
see any interest at all for agriculture. And God knows this
industry is going through serious difficulties caused by a
reduction in subsidies to Canadian farmers while those given to
European and American farmers keep increasing. These
difficulties are also caused by a drop in prices, which are
unstable or low for agricultural commodities, both animal and
vegetable, as well as by natural disasters.
This brings me to the issue of the crisis Canadian agriculture
is facing today. There is a national program called Agricultural
Income Disaster Assistance, or AIDA, but it is inadequate.
One just has to look at the numerous releases that were sent to
us over the last year to understand what I am talking about. We
saw all kinds of changes being made to the program, all kinds of
adjustments to try to make it acceptable to farmers. But I
wonder if government officials sat down with a farm family to
see how these people can fill out these kinds of forms.
1745
Some of the farmers who spoke to me of their distress told me
that filling out the form can cost them $1,000 or so in
accountants' fees, because an accountant is needed. The farm's
taxation year is not the year in which the products are sold.
There are therefore two kinds of figures and generally a person
who is very busy and used to doing farm work is not going to be
an accountant as well.
There is one delay after another. Why so? People do not enrol
in this program because the forms are too hard to fill out and
the results are very questionable.
Yet when this program was implemented, there was a national
revenue advisory committee, which asked that there to be no
payment ceilings for farmers, that asked for use of negative
margins, and for no linking to NISA, the Net Income
Stabilization Account. All that was forgotten. Yet the people
consulted knew their business and could have been of great
service to the agricultural sector.
So here we are facing a crisis that is far more acute in the
west than it is in the rest of the country, and which is
reflected accurately in the letters children write to the Prime
Minister or the Minister of Agriculture. These children write
that:
[English]
“They need more than one job to survive on the farm”.
[Translation]
Basically, they are complaining that their mother and father
have to hold down two or three jobs in order to make ends meet
until the end of the month, if not the end of the day or week.
Another child, Terryl Drisdale, wrote:
[English]
“Farmers are a unique type of people. I am very sure that you
personally don't work the hours annually that the farmers do for
the pay that they have at year end”.
[Translation]
It is moving, because these are sixth grade children writing the
Prime Minister or the Minister of Agriculture. It is like a cry
of dismay at that point in social terms.
How will they cope with this crisis? Not with what they
currently have at their disposal. Suppliers waiting to be paid
for 1998 commodities have been very patient again in 1999. Will
they continue to be?
When things are not going well in one sector of society, the
wolf is at the door. So too there are people waiting to buy
dirt cheap the land that is often family heritage and has been
cleared and maintained by dint of hard work.
Yet, the government believes in rural life and in the
diversification of farms, but all these fine principles the
government states in public do not come about in a single day.
The rural world is fragile. The work done on it must follow the
seasons.
There is also income security. Not a peep in the Speech from
the Throne on income security. Not a word on a review of
stability programs.
In Quebec, we have a 25 year old farm income stability program,
which adapts to federal programs, because we are partners. But
here we realize that the program changes every three or four
years. How can events be followed over the long term if the
programs change?
There were references in the throne speech to research and
development.
It mentioned increased funding for research and development.
And it is high time, because nothing has changed since 1993,
despite the efforts in the last budget.
What is important, and needs to be mentioned, is the need for
those doing basic research to be independent. The programs now
in place often involve partnerships. Sometimes not much is said
about the partner, but when its involvement runs to 90%, as it
does with certain large corporations, the large corporation
picks the research topics and they do not include basic research
to help the public. All these partnerships inhibit research.
1750
There is also the issue of genetically engineered organisms, one
in which I have a great interest. Yesterday, we heard the Prime
Minister begin his speech by stating that the next century will
be the century of the Pacific. But, if we do not resolve firmly
to label genetically engineered products, we will not get very
far selling to the Pacific.
Are we prepared to lose Asian markets? This is a very good
question which must be asked and which has a major impact on the
country's farmers. I would like to conclude—I could go on at
great length about genetically engineered organisms, but I will
address the matter at another time—by referring members to page
19 of the throne speech, which reads as follows:
The Government will protect the health of Canadians by
strengthening Canada's food safety program, by taking further
action on environmental health issues, [—] pesticides [—]
This sounds like the bill that died when Parliament was
prorogued, but it is reminiscent of the premises of Bill C-80, a
superstructure with no accountability, where failures in the
health system make us fear the worst. We cannot add all this to
the work of Health Canada when we already know that the brain
drain has left it unable to evaluate all the services the
government should provide. So I have some major concerns.
Despite its lofty title, the throne speech leaves me, as
agriculture critic, very puzzled.
Mr. André Harvey (Chicoutimi, PC): Mr. Speaker, I listened with
interest to the comments made by the hon. member on a sector
that has been overlooked, but I would like to get her opinion on
one specific issue.
We are faced with a rather pathetic if not immoral situation in
Canada. On the one hand, the federal government is getting
richer thanks to free trade and the GST—which brings in $20
billion—and tax surcharges that bring in an additional $20
billion. On the other hand, the provinces are getting poorer and
cannot meet the urgent needs of their citizens in the areas of
health, education and family policy. There are also individuals
who are getting poorer because of the very heavy tax burden. Let
us not forget that in the United States the maximum tax rate of
40% is imposed on an income of $264,000, while in Canada a rate
in excess of 50% is applied on an income of $60,000.
How does the hon. member explain the fact that the federal
government, whose role should be to support the activities of
the provinces—considering that it cut $33 billion over a six
year period in the Canada social transfer—persists in creating
new programs in the areas of family, education and health, at a
time when Canadians have to travel to the United States to get
medical treatment? I would like to know the hon. member's view
on this situation.
Ms. Hélène Alarie: Mr. Speaker, that question is virtually a
whole program itself. There is something interesting in what my
colleague has said: each province that has capitulated to the
federal government is experiencing delays with the transfer of
assets. I have said a lot about agriculture because it is the
area with which I am perhaps the most familiar, but there are
provinces that do not negotiate on the provincial to federal
government level, but instead wait for federal public servants
to do it all. Expand this situation and their jurisdiction has
been totally lost just to get what they need. We have seen how
this happened with social affairs. Everything was turned over to
the feds to solve the problem. Now there is a heavy price to
pay.
Mr. Odina Desrochers (Lotbinière, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased
to rise today to speak in the debate on the address in reply to
the Speech from the Throne.
This partisan document once again follows along the main thrusts
of the September 1997 throne speech. There is continuity here:
it is a document continuing centralization and non-respect of
Quebec's jurisdiction.
1755
The Prime Minister and his so-called strategists have taken each
of the themes of 1997, changed their titles and added
paragraphs. A fine makeover, with the maple leaf in the
background.
The Liberals' Canadian policy is clear, as is the Canadian model
they are defending. It involves spending budget surpluses in
areas of provincial jurisdiction, avoiding problems at the
federal level, such as employment insurance and air transport,
and presenting a long shopping list with items that could create
new federal-provincial friction.
The editorial of Le Devoir of October 13 provides in this
regard: “It would be good news for once to hear that the federal
government wanted to honour the principle underlying all federal
regimes, which is the sharing of jobs and jurisdictions and
proposed to its partners that the provinces come up with a
consensus on joint policy. New real desire remains to be
proven, however, especially since the speech includes a number
of projects that could rapidly become irritants”.
This centralizing recipe now includes a social union sauce,
which could well further spoil relations between Ottawa and
Quebec City.
I smile at the thought of Liberal ministers and members talking
partnerships, agreements with their partners.
How could we be expected to believe such a philosophy when the
government itself cannot respect jurisdictions and is
continually encroaching on their jurisdiction?
The day after the throne speech, the federal government received
several warnings that it was heading off on the wrong track. I
quote from La Presse of October 13 in this regard: “The Conseil
du patronat is expressing concern over federal government
spillover. The Quebec university students association went so
far as to accuse Ottawa of invading provincial jurisdiction in
the field of education”.
Examples include the case of the national plan on skills and
learning for the 21st century, future health research institutes
and the five year infrastructure program.
On this issue, the federal government has made a commitment, but
we will have to wait until the end of the year 2000, not the end
of the current year. Yet, during the prebudget consultations,
all the municipalities of the electoral district of Lotbinière
asked me to urge the federal government to take immediate
action.
Another vague promise, with no specific funding, and we will
have to wait for the 2001 budget to know the specific
commitments of the federal government. I have made a diagnosis
of this government. It is suffering from a new political
condition called acute wait and see syndrome. The government
makes a promise and then waits. It makes a promise now, but only
for 12, 15 or 24 months from now. In the meantime, those who
need the money suffer.
Let us now go back to employment insurance.
Considering that 60% of the unemployed currently do not qualify
for benefits, what do we find in the throne speech to give some
hope to these people? Not much. Yet, when the federal government
talks about fighting poverty, it should give priority to the
employment insurance program, which is one of the causes of
poverty and one of the main reasons why people are leaving the
regions of Quebec.
What have the Liberals done to help regional development? They
have come up with minor partisan measures and they made a big
deal about some small subsidies, as they did last month when
they sent a delegation of five federal ministers headed by the
new minister of patronage, assisted by the new secretary of
state for professional sport—I mean amateur sport, but given his
recent statements, I am more and more convinced that his job is
geared primarily to helping professional sports.
But let us go back to unemployment and regional employment
insurance rates. This is an absurd situation which jeopardizes
the very foundation of the employment insurance program.
In my riding of Lotbinière, the regional rate set for the
regional county municipality of Lotbinière is very detrimental
to the people there, compared to the riding's other RCMs. Having
two regional rates create two classes of unemployed in the
riding. People constantly contact my offices to condemn this
social injustice.
1800
The Corporation de défense des droits sociaux de Lotbinière,
social and economic stakeholders and the unemployed will
mobilize in early November to convince the new Minister of Human
Resources Development to correct the mistakes made by her
predecessor.
Once again, I would like to explain this administrative
nightmare. The rate, which is determined arbitrarily by
Statistics Canada and considered to be realistic, means that one
must work 630 hours to be eligible for benefits for a period
ranging from 17 to 40 weeks.
In the other RCMs in my riding, the regional rate is 11.2% and
the number of hours required is 490 to be eligible for benefits
for a period ranging from a minimum of 23 weeks to a maximum of
45 weeks. It is a gross injustice for the RCM of Lotbinière,
since the socio-economic profile is the same for the whole
riding. Therefore, setting a single employment insurance rate
for the whole riding that is in line with our true socio-economic
profile is of the utmost importance.
Businesses are also penalized by this regional rate, since they
do not have access to the same federal subsidy programs as
businesses from other areas in my riding.
In the Speech from the Throne, the federal government expressed
its intention to make the Internet accessible to everybody.
First of all, a lot of parents cannot even afford to buy a
computer.
Second, in our opinion, the CRTC should ensure that all
Canadians have access to an individual telephone line so that
they can connect with the Internet. Right here at home on the
eve of the third millennium, certain regions in Quebec and in
the rest of the country still do not even have the basic
services necessary to access the Internet.
This government is completely cut off from the daily lives of
people in our society.
This government has not changed since the beginning of the 36th
Parliament: it remains a centralizing government, now pushing
its social union agreement, a government that stops at nothing
except tackling the problems that come under its jurisdiction,
some examples being EI, the airline industry, and provincial
transfer payments.
But it is in a big rush to get its hands on our money.
The budget surpluses belong to all taxpayers, not just the
Minister of Finance, who fiddles with the books and conceals the
real state of the country's finances.
The Minister of Finance already has the necessary leeway to
announce immediate tax cuts for middle income taxpayers, those
whose hard-earned money paid down the federal deficit, unemployed
workers, youth, the sick and the poor.
In short, my conclusion is very simple: the federal government
has money to spend in fields of provincial jurisdiction, but not
a cent when it comes to problems for which it is accountable.
That is the Canadian way of the Liberal government as I see it.
Mr. Paul Crête (Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques,
BQ): Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for
Lotbinière on his excellent speech. I think he is very close to
his constituents. He has shown us that the Speech from the
Throne truly has nothing to do with the real concerns of the
people. The federal government has chosen to spend in sectors
that are not its responsibility and not to make appropriate
decisions in those that are, such as employment insurance.
I would like the member for Lotbinière to explain the whole
question of the map used to determine how employment insurance
will apply in a given area, a problem he mentioned
in his speech, which is being experienced where he comes from
especially.
It is an important matter for the unemployed that are concerned,
but it is also a problem throughout Canada, because in this case
as in others, the federal government is refusing to revisit the
current employment insurance legislation.
1805
All sorts of situations are getting worse, and I would like him
to tell us more about those concerning the map that governs the
rates of unemployment and that defines the number of weeks that
people need in order to receive benefits.
Mr. Odina Desrochers: Mr. Speaker, as far as the regions are
concerned, this is again an invention by this government, an
invention for interference, differing regional rates, so as to
penalize all of the unemployed.
The problem does not exist in Lotbinière alone, but also in the
neighbouring riding of Frontenac—Mégantic, and colleagues
everywhere speak to me of this situation, which must be
addressed. Now that I am regional development critic, I must
say that this is a situation that is greatly harmful to regional
development.
Here is an example. I am in my office and someone comes in to
tell me “I am 10 hours short of eligibility for employment
insurance”. So I explain the legislation to the person, who
goes away. He then meets a neighbour who lives 20 kilometres
from him, and that person is getting employment insurance.
How is an MP who wants to be fair, and wants to see all his
constituents treated justly, to explain such a crazy situation?
There are two major regional county municpalities in my riding,
along with three others. There are three Human Resource
Development offices. Apart from that there is not a single
public servant in my riding, which has a population of 70,000.
This is abnormal, and once again it is the outcome of the famous
employment insurance reform, which penalizes everyone in Quebec.
[English]
Mr. John Herron (Fundy—Royal, PC): Mr. Speaker, I did
not hear an emphasis with respect to tax reduction in terms of
what this country clearly needs. This country needs broad based
tax reduction. A number of speeches have been made in this House
that have focused on the necessity to have broad based tax
reduction. We have seen growth in those jurisdictions. We have
seen it in Ireland. We have seen it in the province of Ontario.
Does the hon. member believe that the government's rhetoric in
the throne speech with respect to tax reduction is just that, or
is the government capable of providing tax reductions that
Canadian families need so desperately?
[Translation]
Mr. Odina Desrochers: Mr. Speaker, my answer to the
Progressive Conservative member is this: let him find one
single line that is clear in the Speech from the Throne.
It is a bunch of vague promises, with no real commitments. The
only concrete measure will not be taken this year. It will not
be taken in the year 2000, but it might be taken in the year 2001.
An hon. member: Like abolishing the GST.
Mr. Odina Desrochers: How do Canadians and Quebecers react to
such a document? As I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks,
I compared the throne speech from 1997 with this year's speech.
I added small paragraphs and changed some titles and the end
result was the same.
The 1997 speech was just as vague in terms of commitments. Two
years later, nothing has changed. The plight of Quebec's
unemployed is glaring. We are faced with a crisis in the
fishery.
The government is trying to pass legislation to intrude into
provincial jurisdictions, and is using this document to try to
make us believe that this is the Canadian way. This sure bodes
well for the future.
[English]
Ms. Susan Whelan (Essex, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is an
honour as the member for Essex to speak to the throne speech
which was so eloquently delivered by Her Excellency Adrienne
Clarkson whom I would like to congratulate on her appointment as
Governor General. I know that she will bring respect, integrity
and enthusiasm to her new position and will serve the Canadian
people both gracefully and honourably.
Today I would like to reaffirm my thanks to the constituents of
Essex for giving me the privilege and opportunity to represent
them in the House of Commons over the past six years. As many
members know, my riding of Essex is situated in southwestern
Ontario, the southernmost part of Canada and consists of the
newly amalgamated towns of Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville,
Lakeshore, LaSalle, part of the town of Tecumseh and all of Pelee
Island.
1810
Windsor and Essex county has been the core of Canada's
automotive sector and industry since 1925. Daimler Chrysler
Canada's operations are headquartered here, along with major
facilities for both Ford and General Motors. Since 1991 their
combined investment has totalled over $6 billion. Their presence
has attracted over 500 manufacturers of auto related parts,
supplying state of the art machinery, machine tools, moulds,
stampings, dies and automation transfer equipment.
With less than 2% of Canada's population, our region is home to
20% of all tool and die makers, 50% of industrial mould
manufacturers and 80% of the automation transfer machine
companies operating in Canada. Our workforce is diversified,
dependable and disciplined with old-fashioned work ethics.
Keeping our workforce in tune with technology is a top priority
among our manufacturers and educational institutions. The
University of Windsor has established itself as one of Canada's
foremost research universities. In partnership with government
and industry, it has initiated programs pioneering the
development and deployment of advanced technologies. In
addition, the Chrysler Canada University of Windsor Automotive
Research and Development Centre, a joint venture, brings together
the best business and educational minds to create both company
driven and research oriented solutions.
As well, St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology
concentrates on management productivity, trends and skills
development and manufacturing technologies in tool and die and
mould making. We are responsive to the industry's needs where
training is carried out on the factory floor where students gain
access to the latest in technology.
As chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry
in the last session of parliament, and as the member for Essex
with such a vibrant technology based community, I was pleased to
hear the Governor General outline the steps that we will take to
improve our infrastructure of skills innovation and research. The
industry committee took action on this front and held extensive
hearings since 1997. It met with individuals from the university
community, research councils and the private sector, and listened
to their suggestions and recommendations.
At one of our hearings, the Association of Universities and
Colleges of Canada, the Canadian Association of University
Teachers and the Canadian Consortium for Research, the Humanities
and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, and the Canadian
Graduate Council highlighted their focus together in the opening
paragraph of their submission by stating:
Canadians realize that innovation is vital. It is the foundation
for our economic and social prosperity and our ability to compete
in a global market. To be successful, we need a steady stream of
new ideas, a well-educated workforce for the knowledge economy,
and mechanisms to transfer effectively ideas from the laboratory
bench to the marketplace. And we need to ensure that the
innovation process is built on a strong and healthy foundation.
The increased support to the granting councils will ensure that
a healthy foundation exists. It will enable them to forge new
partnerships with our universities such as the University of
Windsor, to attract the best research minds in the world. This
will be developed through the innovative program of 21st century
chairs for research excellence that the Prime Minister outlined
in his speech. Through the research granting councils the
Government of Canada will fund the creation of 1,200 chairs.
The industry committee in its 19th report entitled “Research
Funding—Strengthening the Sources of Innovation” recommended
that funding to the granting councils be increased. I am very
pleased to see that the government is acting on the request in
response to members of the committee and members of parliament.
The committee also heard that the number of students in the
natural sciences and engineering is increasing and the need for
support for funding their research in this area is increasing
correspondingly. We also know that the government must intervene
and act in order to help the challenges of commercialization.
As Robert Giroux from the Association of Universities and
Colleges of Canada said, “To me, the major impediments are the
ability of the universities to identify the potential for a
research product, and secondly being able to move that product to
the marketplace”.
We know the throne speech identified that the Canadian
government will help to assist in the commercialization of
research from universities and government centres. This is now a
priority of the government.
The government also understands that Canadians cannot be
productive and prosperous if they are not healthy. In the throne
speech we confirmed our continued commitment to ensuring that our
health care system will meet the needs of our growing population.
We will build on our health record by supporting partners and
testing innovations in home care, pharmacare and integrated
service delivery over the next two years. A modern health
information system will make health information more accessible
to professionals and our citizens.
1815
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): It being 6.15 p.m.,
it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith
every question necessary to dispose of the amendment to the
amendment now before the House.
The question is on the amendment to the amendment. Is it the
pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment to the amendment?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
Some hon. members: No.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): All those in favour
of the amendment to the amendment will please say yea.
Some hon. members: Yea.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): All those opposed
will please say nay.
Some hon. members: Nay.
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): In my opinion the
nays have it.
And more than five members having risen:
The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): Call in the members.
1845
[Translation]
(The House divided on the amendment to the amendment, which was
negatived on the following division:)
YEAS
Members
Alarie
| Anders
| Asselin
| Bachand
(Richmond – Arthabaska)
|
Bachand
(Saint - Jean)
| Bellehumeur
| Bergeron
| Bernier
(Bonaventure – Gaspé – Îles - de - la - Madeleine – Pabok)
|
Bernier
(Tobique – Mactaquac)
| Bigras
| Blaikie
| Borotsik
|
Brien
| Brison
| Canuel
| Cardin
|
Chrétien
(Frontenac – Mégantic)
| Crête
| Dalphond - Guiral
| Debien
|
Desjarlais
| Desrochers
| Dubé
(Lévis - et - Chutes - de - la - Chaudière)
| Duceppe
|
Fournier
| Gagnon
| Gauthier
| Girard - Bujold
|
Godin
(Châteauguay)
| Guay
| Guimond
| Hardy
|
Harvey
| Herron
| Jones
| Keddy
(South Shore)
|
Laliberte
| Lalonde
| Laurin
| Lebel
|
Loubier
| MacKay
(Pictou – Antigonish – Guysborough)
| Marceau
| Marchand
|
Muise
| Ménard
| Nystrom
| Perron
|
Picard
(Drummond)
| Plamondon
| Power
| Price
|
Proctor
| Rocheleau
| Sauvageau
| Solomon
|
St - Hilaire
| St - Jacques
| Thompson
(New Brunswick Southwest)
| Tremblay
(Rimouski – Mitis)
|
Turp
| Vautour
| Venne
| Wasylycia - Leis
|
Wayne
| de Savoye – 66
|
NAYS
Members
Ablonczy
| Adams
| Alcock
| Anderson
|
Assad
| Assadourian
| Augustine
| Axworthy
(Winnipeg South Centre)
|
Bailey
| Baker
| Bakopanos
| Barnes
|
Beaumier
| Bellemare
| Bennett
| Bertrand
|
Bevilacqua
| Blondin - Andrew
| Bonin
| Bonwick
|
Boudria
| Bradshaw
| Breitkreuz
(Yellowhead)
| Breitkreuz
(Yorkton – Melville)
|
Brown
| Bryden
| Bulte
| Byrne
|
Bélair
| Bélanger
| Caccia
| Calder
|
Cannis
| Carroll
| Casson
| Catterall
|
Cauchon
| Chamberlain
| Chan
| Charbonneau
|
Chatters
| Chrétien
(Saint - Maurice)
| Clouthier
| Coderre
|
Collenette
| Copps
| Cullen
| DeVillers
|
Dhaliwal
| Dion
| Discepola
| Dromisky
|
Drouin
| Duhamel
| Easter
| Eggleton
|
Elley
| Epp
| Finlay
| Fontana
|
Forseth
| Fry
| Gagliano
| Gallaway
|
Godfrey
| Goodale
| Graham
| Gray
(Windsor West)
|
Grewal
| Grey
(Edmonton North)
| Grose
| Guarnieri
|
Hanger
| Harb
| Harvard
| Hill
(Macleod)
|
Hill
(Prince George – Peace River)
| Hilstrom
| Hubbard
| Ianno
|
Iftody
| Jackson
| Jennings
| Johnston
|
Jordan
| Karetak - Lindell
| Karygiannis
| Kenney
(Calgary Southeast)
|
Keyes
| Kilger
(Stormont – Dundas – Charlottenburgh)
| Kilgour
(Edmonton Southeast)
| Knutson
|
Kraft Sloan
| Lastewka
| Lavigne
| Lee
|
Leung
| Limoges
(Windsor – St. Clair)
| Lincoln
| Longfield
|
Lowther
| MacAulay
| Mahoney
| Malhi
|
Maloney
| Manley
| Marleau
| Martin
(LaSalle – Émard)
|
Matthews
| Mayfield
| McCormick
| McGuire
|
McKay
(Scarborough East)
| McLellan
(Edmonton West)
| McNally
| McTeague
|
McWhinney
| Meredith
| Mifflin
| Milliken
|
Mills
(Broadview – Greenwood)
| Minna
| Mitchell
| Murray
|
Myers
| Nault
| Normand
| Nunziata
|
O'Brien
(Labrador)
| O'Brien
(London – Fanshawe)
| O'Reilly
| Obhrai
|
Pagtakhan
| Paradis
| Parrish
| Patry
|
Penson
| Peric
| Peterson
| Pettigrew
|
Phinney
| Pillitteri
| Pratt
| Proud
|
Provenzano
| Ramsay
| Redman
| Reed
|
Reynolds
| Richardson
| Robillard
| Rock
|
Saada
| Schmidt
| Scott
(Fredericton)
| Sekora
|
Serré
| Shepherd
| Solberg
| Speller
|
St - Julien
| St. Denis
| Steckle
| Stewart
(Brant)
|
Stewart
(Northumberland)
| Stinson
| Strahl
| Szabo
|
Telegdi
| Thibeault
| Thompson
(Wild Rose)
| Torsney
|
Ur
| Valeri
| Vanclief
| Volpe
|
Wappel
| Whelan
| White
(North Vancouver)
| Wilfert
|
Wood – 181
|
PAIRED
Members
Axworthy
(Winnipeg South Centre)
| Caplan
| Dumas
| Mercier
|
Nunziata
| Pickard
(Chatham – Kent Essex)
|
The Speaker: I declare the amendment to the amendment lost.
ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS
[English]
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
The House resumed consideration of the motion.
The Speaker: Pursuant to order made earlier today, the
House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded
division on the motion of the Leader of the Government in the
House of Commons.
The question is on Motion No. 1.
[Translation]
Mr. Bob Kilger: Mr. Speaker, I think you will find unanimous
consent to record the members who voted on the previous motion
as voting on the motion now before the House, with Liberals
voting yes.
[English]
The Speaker: Is there agreement to proceed in such a
fashion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
Mr. Chuck Strahl: Mr. Speaker, Reform Party members
present will vote no to this motion.
[Translation]
Mr. Stéphane Bergeron: Mr. Speaker, the members of the Bloc
Quebecois vote no on this motion.
[English]
Mr. John Solomon: Mr. Speaker, members of the NDP present
tonight will vote yes to this motion.
[Translation]
Mr. André Harvey: Mr. Speaker, the Progressive Conservative
members vote no on this motion.
[English]
Mr. John Nunziata: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the good
people of York South—Weston I will vote yes to this motion.
(The House divided on Motion No. 1, which was agreed to on the
following division:)
YEAS
Members
Adams
| Alcock
| Anderson
| Assad
|
Assadourian
| Augustine
| Axworthy
(Winnipeg South Centre)
| Baker
|
Bakopanos
| Barnes
| Beaumier
| Bellemare
|
Bennett
| Bertrand
| Bevilacqua
| Blaikie
|
Blondin - Andrew
| Bonin
| Bonwick
| Boudria
|
Bradshaw
| Brown
| Bryden
| Bulte
|
Byrne
| Bélair
| Bélanger
| Caccia
|
Calder
| Cannis
| Carroll
| Catterall
|
Cauchon
| Chamberlain
| Chan
| Charbonneau
|
Chrétien
(Saint - Maurice)
| Clouthier
| Coderre
| Collenette
|
Copps
| Cullen
| DeVillers
| Desjarlais
|
Dhaliwal
| Dion
| Discepola
| Dromisky
|
Drouin
| Duhamel
| Easter
| Eggleton
|
Finlay
| Fontana
| Fry
| Gagliano
|
Gallaway
| Godfrey
| Goodale
| Graham
|
Gray
(Windsor West)
| Grose
| Guarnieri
| Harb
|
Hardy
| Harvard
| Hubbard
| Ianno
|
Iftody
| Jackson
| Jennings
| Jordan
|
Karetak - Lindell
| Karygiannis
| Keyes
| Kilger
(Stormont – Dundas – Charlottenburgh)
|
Kilgour
(Edmonton Southeast)
| Knutson
| Kraft Sloan
| Laliberte
|
Lastewka
| Lavigne
| Lee
| Leung
|
Limoges
(Windsor – St. Clair)
| Lincoln
| Longfield
| MacAulay
|
Mahoney
| Malhi
| Maloney
| Manley
|
Marleau
| Martin
(LaSalle – Émard)
| Matthews
| McCormick
|
McGuire
| McKay
(Scarborough East)
| McLellan
(Edmonton West)
| McTeague
|
McWhinney
| Mifflin
| Milliken
| Mills
(Broadview – Greenwood)
|
Minna
| Mitchell
| Murray
| Myers
|
Nault
| Normand
| Nunziata
| Nystrom
|
O'Brien
(Labrador)
| O'Brien
(London – Fanshawe)
| O'Reilly
| Pagtakhan
|
Paradis
| Parrish
| Patry
| Peric
|
Peterson
| Pettigrew
| Phinney
| Pillitteri
|
Pratt
| Proctor
| Proud
| Provenzano
|
Redman
| Reed
| Richardson
| Robillard
|
Rock
| Saada
| Scott
(Fredericton)
| Sekora
|
Serré
| Shepherd
| Solomon
| Speller
|
St - Julien
| St. Denis
| Steckle
| Stewart
(Brant)
|
Stewart
(Northumberland)
| Szabo
| Telegdi
| Thibeault
|
Torsney
| Ur
| Valeri
| Vanclief
|
Volpe
| Wappel
| Wasylycia - Leis
| Whelan
|
Wilfert
| Wood – 158
|
NAYS
Members
Ablonczy
| Alarie
| Anders
| Asselin
|
Bachand
(Richmond – Arthabaska)
| Bachand
(Saint - Jean)
| Bailey
| Bellehumeur
|
Bergeron
| Bernier
(Bonaventure – Gaspé – Îles - de - la - Madeleine – Pabok)
| Bernier
(Tobique – Mactaquac)
| Bigras
|
Borotsik
| Breitkreuz
(Yellowhead)
| Breitkreuz
(Yorkton – Melville)
| Brien
|
Brison
| Canuel
| Cardin
| Casson
|
Chatters
| Chrétien
(Frontenac – Mégantic)
| Crête
| Dalphond - Guiral
|
Debien
| Desrochers
| Dubé
(Lévis - et - Chutes - de - la - Chaudière)
| Duceppe
|
Elley
| Epp
| Forseth
| Fournier
|
Gagnon
| Gauthier
| Girard - Bujold
| Godin
(Châteauguay)
|
Grewal
| Grey
(Edmonton North)
| Guay
| Guimond
|
Hanger
| Harvey
| Herron
| Hill
(Macleod)
|
Hill
(Prince George – Peace River)
| Hilstrom
| Johnston
| Jones
|
Keddy
(South Shore)
| Kenney
(Calgary Southeast)
| Lalonde
| Laurin
|
Lebel
| Loubier
| Lowther
| MacKay
(Pictou – Antigonish – Guysborough)
|
Marceau
| Marchand
| Mayfield
| McNally
|
Meredith
| Muise
| Ménard
| Obhrai
|
Penson
| Perron
| Picard
(Drummond)
| Plamondon
|
Power
| Price
| Ramsay
| Reynolds
|
Rocheleau
| Sauvageau
| Schmidt
| Solberg
|
St - Hilaire
| St - Jacques
| Stinson
| Strahl
|
Thompson
(New Brunswick Southwest)
| Thompson
(Wild Rose)
| Tremblay
(Rimouski – Mitis)
| Turp
|
Vautour
| Venne
| Wayne
| White
(North Vancouver)
|
de Savoye – 89
|
PAIRED
Members
Axworthy
(Winnipeg South Centre)
| Caplan
| Dumas
| Mercier
|
Nunziata
| Pickard
(Chatham – Kent Essex)
|
The Speaker: I declare the motion carried.
It being 6.50 p.m. the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at
10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).
(The House adjourned at 6.50 p.m.)