Debates of Dec. 5th, 1994

Bovine Somatotropin

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the person in question is on leave of absence without pay and as such has not been involved at all on the file having to do with BST.

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, does the minister realize that such leniency in dealing with this unacceptable situation completely destroys the credibility of Health Canada with the public and with the dairy industry, as well as her own credibility as minister responsible?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as I already said, the person in question is on leave of absence without pay, is employed by another centre at this time, is not speaking for Health Canada and has not been involved in the BST file.

The Economy

[Raymond Lavigne, Liberal, Verdun—Saint-Paul, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Human Resources Development.

Most of my constituents are very pleased with the numerous signs of economic recovery, including the slide in the unemployment rate. Many, however, especially young people and women, remain concerned about their future. What steps does the minister intend to take to ensure that the benefits of this recovery are enjoyed equally by all Canadians.

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, as members will recall, last spring we introduced a major program for youth employment which sponsored in particular major internship programs in which we would work with the private sector and educational institutions to sponsor on the job training programs for young people.

Up to this point the program has only been working for four or five months. Already close to 10,000 young people have enrolled through private sector arrangements to help them with that major problem of school to work transition. It is our aim by next year to have close to 60,000 young people enrolled.

I believe the new wave of the future is to bring business, government and education into partnership to provide better opportunities for Canadian youths.

Regional Development

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

Business leaders and academics and most recently the Globe and Mail have called for the end of regional development agencies across the country. The Minister of Industry has one industrial strategy yet other ministers have another strategy.

How does the Minister of Industry explain the obvious contradictory messages being sent out? While he says that regional development programs do not work, his colleagues are handing out over a billion dollars a year to repeat defaulters,

huge corporations that do not need the money, lobby groups and friends of ministers. Which one of these incompatible ministers are we supposed to understand?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, not only have I not made the statement the member alludes to but I would say to him that he has made a startling allegation and it is incumbent upon him to provide facts, dates, numbers and names. We will be happy to look at them.

Let me say also that a key component of an economic development strategy has to be one that recognizes the differences that exist among and between the regions of this country. We have a very large country with quite a varied economy.

The role played by the federal government in understanding the differences among regions, in meeting the needs and requirements of sectors as diverse as those in natural resources as well as those in the manufacturing and new advanced technology sectors is one which requires a great deal of co-ordination across government. That is what we are endeavouring to do.

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I could have retracted one statement because these people do not have too many friends.

We are releasing a report this week on regional development which showcases the government assisted gravy train which is off the tracks.

The Minister of Industry is on record as opposing massive grants and subsidies to businesses. Therefore, what assurance can he give the business community and Canadian taxpayers that he will fight the difficult decision among the ministers of goodies who have two different messages coming out, one from two ministers of goodies and another from the Minister of Industry?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, let us try to keep some perspective on what we are trying to accomplish here.

The member will know the concern I have about assistance to business is that it be very strategic in target. That is in line with the strategy other ministers who have responsibility for economic development are pursuing.

As the member will know, we need to make sure our investment in economic development is strategic. It is targeted and focused. It recognizes the need to recognize those sectors in which high risks are prominent, in which other countries are providing assistance to their businesses, in which the markets for goods and services being produced are international and therefore subject to the discipline of international marketplaces.

Those are criteria that apply to regions. Those are criteria that apply to sectors. We have been very consistent in seeking to put our assistance to business programs on that kind of footing.

Situation In Bosnia

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of National Defence.

Yesterday in Budapest, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that we should give the search for peace in the former Yugoslavia a last chance and that he used the expression "last chance" because he thought an agreement was not far off. Meanwhile, the Bosnian Serbs still refuse to listen to reason and accept the peace plan proposed by the majorpowers, including the United States and Russia.

Could the Minister of Defence tell us what grounds his colleague at Foreign Affairs has for being so optimistic, at a time when the Bosnian Serbs still refuse to accept the peace plan proposed by the contact group?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, in Budapest the Minister of Foreign Affairs was stating the obvious and I believe a position all Canadians would support. That is that this country believes the only way out of the terrible tragedy which is unfolding in the former Yugoslavia is through a negotiated settlement.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs was expressing that optimism. I hope the hon. member shares it. If he does not I would like to hear the alternative from him.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure we would love to share the optimism of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Could the Minister of Defence indicate what the Canadian government intends to suggest at the meetings of the CSCE that would help revive negotiations and lead the Bosnian Serbs to finally accept the proposed peace plan?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Prime Minister himself stated the importance of a negotiated peace. There is also the fact that at this very moment, 55 Canadians are still being detained in Bosnia, and I think that, following the release of 53 Dutch and British soldiers, we first want to ensure the release of our soldiers over there.

That being said, their release is expected to be imminent, and the pressure is being kept up at all levels, including the CSCE, the UN forces and all international means, as the Prime Minister did this morning.

Western Economic Diversification

[Jim Silye, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

The Department of Western Economic Diversification has loaned $670 million to companies in the four western provinces since the Tories invented the department. Only about 25 per cent of those loans are currently being repaid. Many experts predict that the default rate will be in the 40 per cent range.

Given that the minister has publicly stated he is not in favour of massive subsidies and that he said earlier today that he favours private sector development, is he prepared to admit that regional development programs are not effective ways of enhancing Canada's economy?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to say to the hon. member that both his facts and his assessment are wrong.

We have made major changes in western economic development so that we are not giving large grants to large businesses. We are now providing basic assistance to firms with under 50 employees so that we can help them deal with some of the challenges in the export market, such as meeting quality testing and other kinds of requirements.

I will give one example. A few months ago we were able to assist with a very small grant of $200,000 the Vancouver based firm Northstar which allowed it to secure a $30 million line of credit with one of Canada's major banks so that the firm could provide export financing for small business. Since then the firm has already had 2,000 applications for financing of small business export development around the world.

It seems to me that was one very good investment that will help thousands of western Canadian companies secure new markets. The hon. member should get his facts straight.

[Jim Silye, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, speaking about facts, perhaps the minister could get his facts straight. One good investment out of $1.2 billion worth of regional funds is not good enough in this country.

Since the Minister of Industry will not answer the question, my supplemental is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. There is a world of difference between entrepreneurs taking risks with their own money and taking risks with other people's money, especially when it is the taxpayers who will have to pay the interest on the borrowed funds and the defaulting loans.

What does the minister consider as an acceptable level of risk from his Department of Western Economic Diversification as it continues to flush taxpayers' money down the drain? Where is the rest of the justification on the $1.2 billion?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member knew anything about the way the program worked rather than just repeating a bunch of mythology and garbage he has heard from other people he would realize that most of the money is coming back by repayable contributions. Western economic development recycles money back into business so we can create jobs. I understand the Reform Party is not interested in jobs, it is not interested in employment and it sure as hell is not interested in western Canada. I can tell you that.

Trade

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister for International Trade has pushed very hard for Chile to join NAFTA. He visited Chile last January and he has made numerous speeches on the subject.

Can the minister explain why he believes it is in Canada's interests to have Chile join a free trade agreement?

[Roy MacLaren, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the question is entirely topical in that we do hope to make some real progress on the accession of Chile to NAFTA at the Miami summit of the western hemisphere later this week.

There are three reasons. Principally while we urge and have continued to take a lead in urging the early accession of Chile to NAFTA, one is that Canada is a principal investor in Chile. We have already promised a $4 billion plus investment in Chile. The second reason is we want to counter the confusing network of trade rules that are becoming a problem for members of our business community as they develop their trade in the western hemisphere. The third reason is that we are in favour of open markets, market liberalization throughout the world and the step toward the integration of Chile in NAFTA-

[The Speaker]

Three kicks at the can and that is about it. The hon. member for Drummond.

Blood Supply System

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. On December 1, impor-

tant elements in the report of the expert advisory committee on the safety of Canada's blood supply system were leaked to and disclosed by the media.

How can the minister explain to us, as mentioned in the report of the expert committee, the blatant lack of rigour in Health Canada's Bureau of Biologics, which has the huge responsibility of checking the quality of blood products and facilities at all 17 transfusion centres of the Canadian Red Cross Society?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as you can appreciate, this is a very sensitive subject. This report is in the hands of the Krever Commission. I will not comment on this until the commission has held public hearings on this issue.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Leon Benoit, Reform, Vegreville, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday the results of the Canadian Wheat Board advisory elections were made public. It is not a surprise that less than 40 per cent of farmers turned out to vote for these largely symbolic positions. It is a surprise that leading up to this election Lorne Hehn, the chief commissioner for the Canadian Wheat Board, campaigned actively for a group of candidates who had a specific political agenda.

Does the minister of agriculture condone the fact that the chief commissioner who is supposed to be politically neutral campaigned actively during the advisory committee elections?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, to the best of my knowledge the chief commissioner and a number of the commissioners of the Canadian Wheat Board participated in public meetings during the fall. They discussed a broad variety of aspects pertaining to the marketing of western Canadian grain. To the best of my knowledge they were not actively involved in any campaign with respect to the election of the advisory committee to the Canadian Wheat Board. If the hon. member has any information to the contrary I would be happy to have it.

[Vic Althouse, NDP, Mackenzie, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the same minister who has had a chance now to analyse the results of that same advisory committee election which demonstrated overwhelming support for pro-wheat board candidates.

Since the sole support for dual marketing and the subsequent weakening of the board's powers is clearly seen to be limited to a small minority special interest group, what action will he take to protect and reinforce the ability of the board to act in the best interests of the vast majority of producers who support the board?