Debates of Nov. 27th, 1997
House of Commons Hansard #39 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was plan.
Topics
- Privilege
- Government Response To Petitions
- Organized Crime
- Committees Of The House
- Corrections And Conditional Release Act
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act
- Environment
- Year 2000
- Jacques Parizeau
- Bc Mine Workers
- The Environment
- Seaforth Highlanders
- Jacques Parizeau
- Child Tax Benefit
- Jacques Parizeau
- Canadian Flag
- Jacques Parizeau
- Alternative Service Delivery
- Quebec Premier
- Pharmaceutical Industry
- Quebec Sovereignty
- The Late Justice John Sopinka
- Canada Post
- Krever Report
- Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Child Poverty
- The Economy
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Krever Report
- Justice
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Krever Inquiry
- Rcmp
- Climate Change
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Powa
- Human Rights
- Krever Inquiry
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Literacy
- Seal Hunt
- Business Of The House
- Points Of Order
- Committees Of The House
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act
- Message From The Senate
- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act
- People's Tax Form Act
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Brant
Ontario
Liberal
Jane Stewart Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. Leader of the Opposition is so committed to aboriginal people in this country, I would invite him to support the newest senator who was named yesterday—
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
Powa
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Bloc
Jean-Guy Chrétien Frontenac—Mégantic, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.
The minister recently said that BC mine workers were not interested in a POWA. Yet, these workers are currently protesting in front of the minister's Montreal office. They are asking for a modified POWA.
Given the repeated requests made by the former BC mine workers, will the minister finally see the light and take the necessary steps to ensure their financial security?
Powa
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Papineau—Saint-Denis
Québec
Liberal
Pierre Pettigrew Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear: our government acted very quickly following the closure of the mine. In late September, I asked my department to allocate close to $3 million for active measures to help these former workers, when no other action had yet been taken.
I draw the hon. member's attention to a letter, dated the 27 and signed by the union president, which I am prepared to table in the House. It says clearly that the workers want an improved POWA, that they are not interested in a traditional POWA, only in an improved one. Therefore, this has nothing to do with what the hon. member is asking for.
Human Rights
Oral Question Period
November 27th, 1997 / 2:50 p.m.
NDP
Lorne Nystrom Qu'Appelle, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Finance.
The Prime Minister committed our country to be part of a $43 billion bailout to the investors, the speculators and even dictators like Suharto in Southeast Asia.
How much is the Canadian taxpayer on the hook to bankroll regimes with little regard for human rights? What is it going to cost the Canadian taxpayer? What is that commitment? Are we being taken to the cleaners by the minister? Are we going to be Martinized by this minister?
Human Rights
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
LaSalle—Émard
Québec
Liberal
Paul Martin Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it was extremely fortuitous in fact that the APEC meetings took place in Vancouver under the leadership of the Prime Minister. It demonstrated to investors and to workers in all of Southeast Asia that in fact the major industrial countries were prepared to come together to make sure that the international financial system continued on at a stable pace.
What has happened, as the hon. member knows, is that negotiations have been taking place with the International Monetary Fund. We will be meeting a number of the countries in Chile over the next week—
Human Rights
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Charlotte.
Krever Inquiry
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Greg Thompson Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in questioning the government in regard to compensation for the hepatitis C victims, the government basically said “wait 15 minutes for the Krever report to come down and we will act on it”. The minister indicated he would act on it. Today in the House, he is saying “I have got to consult with my provincial counterparts”.
There are 12,000 Canadians suffering. They have now suffered for 10 and 15 years with no financial reimbursement or support.
Will the minister show leadership and act unilaterally to help these people as we did in 1991—
Krever Inquiry
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of Health.
Krever Inquiry
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, it was yesterday we received the report. Mr. Justice Krever made recommendations about compensation, findings about the past and recommendations for the future. I think the only responsible way to deal with those recommendations is to discuss the issue with those in the provinces and territories who are also involved so that we can furnish to the victims a response that is meaningful.
I have made it clear that I do not want this matter to languish in the courts for a decade. I want a solution but I first want to talk to my partners in the system who are in the provinces and territories.
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Reform
John Williams St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, I think the minister wants us to defend their tokenism as they appoint people to the Senate while thousands of people are going without and are absolutely destitute across this country. We will never support any appointment to the other House, no matter who it is. For this minister to ask that I think is out of order.
The minister is out of touch with her own department when she said yesterday that the Alexander First Nation in my constituency was a model of good management—
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. minister of Indian affairs.
Aboriginal Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Brant
Ontario
Liberal
Jane Stewart Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see that the Reform Party has finally come to understand the reality facing aboriginal people in Canada. As I recall, in the last Parliament the former member for Capilano—Howe Sound indicated that aboriginal people in Canada were living like those on a South Seas island.
Literacy
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Lynn Myers Waterloo—Wellington, ON
Mr. Speaker, a recently released international survey shows that more than 40% of adult Canadians or seven million people do not have the literacy skills needed to function effectively at home or at work.
My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. What exactly is the federal government doing to improve the literacy of Canadians?
Literacy
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Papineau—Saint-Denis
Québec
Liberal
Pierre Pettigrew Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, my department actually supported the development of the report to better understand literacy issues in this country. The report also recognized that Canadians have the skills needed to succeed in the advanced economy but not enough.
We are doing very well. We have the strongest literacy skills in the world. However, we need to do more. In the last budget, funding to the National Literacy Secretariat was increased to $29 million to better promote literacy. I must commend our good friend, Senator Joyce Fairbairn, who does extraordinary work in promoting literacy in this country. I thank her very much.