House of Commons Hansard #4 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was trade.

Topics

Calgary DeclarationOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

The Speaker

Dear colleague, I think he heard the question. Moreover, you must always address the Chair.

Calgary DeclarationOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, in fact—

Calgary DeclarationOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yes or no?

Calgary DeclarationOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC

—if ever the Calgary declaration were to become an interpretive clause, which is possible, although it has not happened yet, of course, as it is under discussion, the interpretation given would guarantee Quebecers that the courts would take into account today's unique, as opposed to yesterday's distinct, character of Quebec society.

There is not a single serious jurist who would say that being unique had anything less to recommend it than being distinct.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

As the minister is aware, there are in excess of 30,000 illegal immigrants in Canada today. Can the minister confirm that there are in excess of 200 citizens of Vietnam in Canada under deportation order mostly for criminal activity? Can the minister confirm that the Canadian government is negotiating with the Government of Vietnam to take back a handpicked 100 of them?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Westmount—Ville-Marie Québec

Liberal

Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, what I can confirm officially is that annually in Canada we have over 200,000 immigrants who will become Canadian citizens and whom we are very proud to welcome. That is the federal system.

Clearly, however, there are always people in life who try to abuse the system, and we have the tools necessary to deport and return to their country those who try to abuse the system. This is the case in a number of countries.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, I assure the minister that this party is just as happy with all the immigrants who come into this country legally as her party is.

Could the minister confirm, after she checks out what she is doing with the Government of Vietnam, that the federal government is greasing the wheels with the Vietnam government for acceptance of these deportees, that it is using an $8 million CIDA contract in Vietnam headed up by Marc Lalonde, a former government minister? Could she make sure the former minister is not part of what is going on to solve the problem she has with these Vietnamese deportees who are in Canada?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Westmount—Ville-Marie Québec

Liberal

Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member of the Reform Party is so proud to welcome immigrants to Canada, he should not really be continuing to try to create myths about immigration. That is just what he is doing with this sort of question and it is unacceptable.

I repeat. In the case of those who abuse the system, who come here illegally, we try to have official agreements with foreign governments so they will take back their nationals who are here illegally. This is the case with Vietnam, China and other countries.

Canada Post CorporationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for Canada Post announced that his strategy in negotiations with the postal union was first to let the workers strike and then to negotiate special legislation to force them back to work.

Could the Prime Minister tell us if this is indeed his government's actual strategy to resolve the postal issue?

Canada Post CorporationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the member that I have announced no strategy and that the only thing the government wants is for the two parties—the union and the Canada Post Corporation—to sit down at the bargaining table and come up with a negotiated agreement.

Public Works And Government ServicesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Public Works and Government Services share with the House how the conflict opposing Bradson Security Services and its locked out security officers was finally resolved after almost a year?

Would the minister also inform the House as to the measures the government will implement to avoid such deplorable situations in the future?

Public Works And Government ServicesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, let me first inform the House that Bradson Security has negotiated a tentative agreement. Members of the union will vote on October 3.

Such a situation will not occur any more because last Friday we went out for new tenders. There is a clause for the future that will allow the suspension of any contractual obligation on both the suppliers and the government in case of a strike or lockout.

JusticeOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, today the Supreme Court of Canada stated very clearly in a judgment it rendered that the meeting between Ted Thompson and Chief Justice Isaac which occurred on March 1, 1996 was clearly inappropriate and breached the judicial independence of the courts.

Evidence in justice documents filed with the supreme court indicate that a false story and cover-up of this incident were created by senior justice officials. This is unacceptable. In the face of this incriminating evidence and the statements of the supreme court, will the new justice minister immediately dismiss the officials involved in this cover-up?

JusticeOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. I point out to the House that what the Supreme Court of Canada said today in a very important decision was that the justice official in question exercised bad judgment but did not act in bad faith.

Having said that, I reassure the hon. member that I will be taking under advisement that which the supreme court said and I will be reviewing it in the coming days.

JusticeOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for her response. One of her own officials stated that if the real story were revealed “the damage done to the image of the department, the attorney general and the court will be incalculable for all time and the consequences could precipitate the resignations of the minister and the chief justice”.

Again, will the justice minister immediately dismiss those involved in what her own official described as a false story and a cover-up?

JusticeOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Edmonton West Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I want to point out, because it does not appear clear from the hon. member's question, that the case he refers to decided by the supreme court today is in fact a case we won.

It was a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of Canada in which, yes, they did refer to an exercise of bad judgment by an official within the Department of Justice; but they went on to conclude that the exercise of bad judgment should not lead to a stay of proceedings.

I am very pleased to announce to the House this afternoon that the government will be proceeding in a very timely fashion with the three cases involving alleged war crimes.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

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

Considerable time has gone by since the last changes to the employment insurance were introduced. The verdict is clear: ordinary people and seasonal workers are hard hit by the changes introduced by my predecessor, the former member for Acadie—Bathurst.

Consequently, is the government prepared to amend the Employment Insurance Act to ensure that children from families affected by the reform are not sent off to school on an empty stomach?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, our employment insurance reform came into effect a year ago. We have been monitoring its implementation very carefully and closely and we are measuring its impact to make sure the interests of Canadians from coast to coast are well served.

I can tell you that, after 25 years of an employment insurance system that did not keep up with changes in the job market, it was imperative that it be reviewed, upgraded and brought up to date because it served Canadians very poorly.

I can also tell you that we are watching the system's results very closely but we feel that, for the time being, it is in the interest of Canadians to move from passive to active measures within the system.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Mr. Speaker, are the minister and the government insensitive to the pain and suffering inflicted upon these families? Will this government stop stealing money from the unemployed by using the surplus in the employment insurance fund to reduce the deficit?

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

The Speaker

In my opinion, the word “stealing” is unparliamentary; I would therefore ask my hon. colleague to withdraw it.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I am sincerely sorry, Mr. Speaker, for using the word “stealing”. So I will say “taking the money”.

Employment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, what we do know is that workers everywhere in this country want to retain jobs and have social systems which help them adapt to the labour market.

That is what we have done with the transitional job fund. It has helped thousands of workers in the Atlantic region work in dignity instead of being limited to continual dependence on an income coming from outside. Our respect for these workers is what has prompted us to commit to active measures with enhanced budgets which give them the dignity of real jobs, by moving from a system of passive measures to active measures.

Speech From The ThroneOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Jean Dubé Progressive Conservative Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Mr. Speaker, over the years the government has continuously picked the pockets of Canadians through high employment insurance premiums.

Speech From The ThroneOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

In view of the fact that I just had one member withdraw a word that had to do with stealing, I wonder if the hon. member would consider withdrawing the words “picked the pockets”.

Speech From The ThroneOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Jean Dubé Progressive Conservative Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

Mr. Speaker, I will.

In the Speech from the Throne the government announced that it planned to go ahead with the seniors benefits, which discourages retirement savings, attacks middle income seniors and earners, and punishes women.

Could the Minister of Human Resources Development tell us what his government has against Canadians who work, who want to work and who want peace of mind and security in retirement?