Debates of Feb. 29th, 1996
House of Commons Hansard #3 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was country.
Topics
- Order In Council Appointments
- Government Response To Petitions
- Report Of Chief Electoral Officer Of Canada
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Judges Act
- Criminal Code
- National Organ Donor Day Act
- Criminal Code
- Canada Business Corporations Act
- Criminal Code
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act
- Criminal Code
- Consumer Packaging And Labelling Act
- Canada Elections Act
- Petitions
- Speech From The Throne
- Point Of Order
- Speech From The Throne
- Education
- Minister Of Justice
- Curling
- Speech From The Throne
- Black History Month
- Fisheries
- Quebec Chamber Of Commerce
- Roland Veilleux
- Impaired Driving
- Cuba
- Robert Sutherland
- Speech From The Throne
- Black History In Canada
- Emergency Preparedness
- Justice
- Speech From The Throne
- Grammy Awards
- Cross Canada Referendum
- Federal-Provincial Relations
- The Economy
- Air Safety
- Employment
- Old Age Security
- Trade
- Department Of Justice
- Financial Institutions
- Goods And Services Tax
- Human Rights
- National Unity
- Softwood Lumber Industry
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- The Budget
- Grain
- Ports
- Presence In Gallery
- Business Of The House
- Speech From The Throne
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:25 p.m.
Reform
Deborah Grey Beaver River, AB
Mr. Speaker, again comes the clapping and the arrogance. They have not broken the back of the deficit. They have broken the back of the Canadian taxpayers who are leading the battle in making ends meet. The best way to create real, sustainable jobs is to lower taxes. The best way to do that is to eliminate the deficit.
When will the Prime Minister and his finance minister announce a firm date for balancing the budget and give Canadians much needed tax relief?
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:25 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:25 p.m.
Some hon. members
Bravo.
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Saint-Maurice, QC
Mr. Speaker, the rest of the answer has been given by the whole caucus.
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:25 p.m.
Reform
Deborah Grey Beaver River, AB
Mr. Speaker, speaking of hands being put together, by waving the white flag with that hand, the Prime Minister is declaring that he is surrendering the war on the deficit and government overspending. He is condemning Canadians to many more years of insecurity and mediocrity.
When is the Prime Minister going to get his hands on the throat of the deficit, rather than on the taxpayers?
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
The Economy
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear.
Air Safety
Oral Question Period
February 29th, 1996 / 2:30 p.m.
Bloc
Paul Mercier Blainville—Deux-Montagnes, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.
On December 29, because of human error, an Air Canada flight was intercepted by South Korean combat aircraft. Experts blame an overworked crew and the degradation of service and equipment for the incident.
Could the Minister of Transport tell us whether air deregulation may have been the cause of the problems experienced during the flight in question, which could have had tragic consequences for the air travellers?
[English]
Air Safety
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Victoria
B.C.
Liberal
David Anderson Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that we have full confidence in Air Canada's safety systems.
We are looking into the matter which occurred some six weeks ago. It appears that the problem which arose was, in fact, not related to the Department of Transport but an error in a clerk's typing of one code which led to a mistake in Japan. That is what we are looking into at the present time. That is all the information I can give him at this time.
Air Safety
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Bloc
Paul Mercier Blainville—Deux-Montagnes, QC
Mr. Speaker, here is my supplementary question.
Can the minister give us any formal assurances, other than his words, that no one will ever type in a wrong code again and that the security of Canadians will never be compromized in the future?
Air Safety
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Victoria
B.C.
Liberal
David Anderson Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, certainly I can give the hon. member the assurance that the safety systems of Air Canada are among the very best in the world. We are doing everything possible to make sure that standard of safety is maintained.
I can assure him also that this matter will be looked into by the department and that in due course we will have further information to give him.
I would like to make sure that the House fully understands that the safety system for Canadian airlines and the Canadian air transport system are of the world's highest level.
Employment
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Reform
Jim Silye Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, after two years of promising jobs, jobs, jobs and promising hope, the Prime Minister's record is clear. He has failed to deliver on job growth; failed to balance the budget; failed to provide tax relief; failed to abolish the GST and failed to create the economic environment in which businesses can create jobs. His government is failing.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Who is responsible for job creation? The government or the private sector?
Employment
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I made it clear yesterday that the role of the government is to prepare a climate for the private sector to invest. That is exactly what we have done.
A big problem for the business community was that the interest rate spread between Canada and the United States was too wide. This has been completely eliminated and it is a big achievement for all of us.
It was reported this morning that the economy has created 579,000 new jobs since we formed the government. For a failure that is not bad.
Employment
Oral Question Period
2:30 p.m.
Reform
Jim Silye Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, now the Prime Minister wants businesses to create more jobs, not the government. I am trying to find out if in fact he still believes in the infrastructure program.
The way to create jobs is to lower taxes so taxpayers and businesses have more disposable income. To lower taxes there must be a balanced budget. The government is adding to the debt, not reducing it. Funding must not be decreased the way this government has done with its social and health transfer and education.
The government should look at the way it is handling everything to do with the economy and let the private sector grow and create the jobs it should create. The government has not done its part. The government must look at the debt and look at its budget and present a balanced budget.
When will the government present a balanced budget?