Debates of Oct. 28th, 1997

Prison System

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, it is very good to establish due process.

I am going to look into this and I will get back to the member.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, truth is stranger than fiction. This situation is like a scene straight out of Omerta , the television series.

Does the solicitor general intend to immediately suspend the warden of the Institut Leclerc and to institute a public inquiry to find out why no one in his department took action in this incredible situation, and himself first and foremost, once again?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I will look into this as I said and report back.

Environment

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Watching this government unveil its position on climate change is a little like watching a slow strip tease. First the Minister of the Environment talks vaguely about targets. Then the Minister of Natural Resources hints at carbon taxes. Now perhaps the Prime Minister is finally ready to perform.

When will the Liberals stop dancing around this issue and show some leadership? When will the Prime Minister let Canadians know what Canada's position on the climate change crisis will be at Kyoto?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we are at this moment consulting with the stakeholders and the provinces on this very important issue.

The position of Canada is very clear. We cannot go and have nothing happening in Kyoto. We would like to have real progress in Kyoto. We are developing a Canadian position with all those who can participate. At the same time we are consulting with the other countries so there will be a consensus in Kyoto and it is—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Halifax.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, that is the story with everybody except Canadians. Scientists and economists at home and abroad agree that developing strategies in meeting targets to reduce greenhouse gases can actually be a powerful job creator. If the Canadian government were doing its homework, it would know that jobs must be an integral part of any effective climate change strategy.

Will the Prime Minister bring to Kyoto plans that maximize jobs and economic opportunities for Canadians?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes.

[Jean Charest, Progressive Conservative, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is on the issue of climate change with a practical application of how Canada can deal with this issue. The Government of Canada, this government, reported in the estimates of 1994-95 that it would be consulting with stakeholders on economic instruments. It made a commitment in the red book to do so.

Can the government report to us today what work has been done on economic instruments so there will be answers to this very important problem of climate change?

[Christine Stewart, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the government has been looking at a very long list of measures that can be taken to meet whatever the target and timelines are that are agreed upon in Kyoto.

We did put one measure in our last budget, $60 million for refurbishing commercial buildings. Many of the measures that can be taken will be taken by the federal government, but other partners in this issue will also have to take their own measures. That will all be a matter of discussion between the federal government and all of our partners.

[Jean Charest, Progressive Conservative, Sherbrooke, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government was saying that three or four years ago. I find it revealing today that it is the Minister of the Environment, not the Minister of Finance who is answering the questions on economic instruments.

Maybe we can help the government today in this problem it has. Will the government confirm that it will propose joint implementation in Kyoto? Will it also confirm that it will propose the use of economic instruments, take up the offer of President Clinton and look at how we can implement some tradable permit system here in North America?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, there has been extensive work done within the Department of Finance. There has been extensive work done in conjunction with the Minister of the Environment on the whole issue of economic instruments on tradable permits. We have discussed this at the same time with our counterparts internationally within the G-7. We have advanced the yardstick substantially. Unfortunately when we took over government in 1993 we virtually had to start at zero.

Taxation

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it turns out that while the Prime Minister was in Britain golfing, he bragged that it was he who introduced the GST. Not only that, he told them that it was a wonderful tax. He was bubbling over with enthusiasm for the hated GST.

My question is for the Prime Minister, a man who is well-known for his love of golf. Is this what they mean by the term improving your lie?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

That is your mulligan for today.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I understand the hon. member is always in the rough. Someone will find him sooner or later with his head in the sand.

The GST tax has existed in Canada for a long time. We have opposed the GST. I said that it was introduced in Canada some time ago and that it was controversial. That is still my position. We have harmonized with many of the provinces so that it is working better.

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if that was a mulligan. It sounded like a Mulroney to me.

The prime minister went so far as to say we introduced it. I think that will leave Canadians teed off. Now we know how he keeps his score down.

Does the prime minister really believe his government truly introduced the GST, or did he just take a golf ball in the head at St. Andrews?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when a question is asked of the Prime Minister of Canada about Canada he speaks on behalf of Canada. That is exactly what I did.

I said that when we introduced it in Canada, in the Parliament of Canada, my party voted against it but it was the will of the Parliament of Canada. I said when it was introduced in Canada it was very controversial but it was replacing another tax.

The Prime Minister of Canada is the Prime Minister of Canada and has been the leader of the Liberal Party for four years. With this opposition he will be here for a long time.

Prison System

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

Mr. Speaker, how unacceptable and incredible that the warden of a federal penitentiary has close business dealings with a highly criminal biker gang.

Is the solicitor general aware that the warden of a penitentiary has the authority to hand out temporary parole and that the close contacts between the warden of the Leclerc penitentiary and criminal biker gangs therefore leave us with doubts about the criteria applied in the granting of these privileges?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the charges that have been made this afternoon are very serious. I am going to look into them. If the facts behind the charges are true, action will be taken.

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

Mr. Speaker, while he is looking into the matter, does the solicitor general also intend to look into all the internal privileges that this warden hands out to inmates, to his friends in the institution of which he is the head?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, if in fact these allegations are true all the allegations put forward will be looked into, yes.

Finance

[Diane Ablonczy, Reform, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister is rumoured to be a successful businessman. Now this financial wizard is telling our kids that he will be taking 10% of their lifetime earnings. He will manage their money so well that by the time they retire he will give them a whopping 1.8% on all that money, 1.8% on a lifetime investment.

As a businessman would the minister put his money in a venture like that?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the return that is projected is a 3.8% return, which is in fact a real return, roughly in line with that projected by most other major pension funds.

The great advantage of the Canada pension plan is regardless of market fluctuations the Government of Canada stands behind the CPP.

The Reform Party wants to subject Canadians to having a substantial portion of their retirement totally at the will of market volatility.

[Diane Ablonczy, Reform, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister may have come up with some great sound bytes to sell his pyramid scheme, but anyone who reads the fine print gets cold feet in a hurry.

Yesterday Alberta's treasurer said “If it takes a little longer to improve this scheme then we will take the time to help the feds get it right”.

Other leaders in the country believe our kids deserve more than 1.8% earnings over a lifetime. Why doesn't the minister?