Debates of March 24th, 1998
House of Commons Hansard #79 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Topics
- Government Response To Petitions
- Energy Price Commission Act
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Budget Implementation Act, 1998
- Business Of The House
- Budget Implementation Act, 1998
- Money Laundering
- Liberal Party
- Engineering
- Quebec's Fiscal Balance
- World Meteorological Day
- Academy Of Motion Pictures, Arts And Sciences
- Liberal Party
- Immigration
- Greek Independence Day
- Liberal Party
- Liberal Party Of Canada
- Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Reform Party Of Canada
- Radarsat Ii
- Pensions
- Liberal Party
- Fisheries
- Minister Of Intergovernmental Affairs
- The Senate
- Fisheries
- The Senate
- Customs Controls
- The Senate
- Old Age Security
- Film And Television Industry
- Search And Rescue
- Pay Equity
- Job Creation
- The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy
- Foreign Affairs
- Tuition Fees
- Rcmp
- Post-Secondary Education
- Canada Labour Relations Board
- Foreign Affairs
- Air India Disaster
- Royal Canadian Mint
- Option Canada
- The Senate
- The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy
- Young Offenders Act
- Privilege
- Points Of Order
- Budget Implementation Act, 1998
- Taxation
The Senate
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I will repeat that if we were to begin electing a senator at this time, we would perpetuate the situation forever.
I will quote Dennis Anderson, a former cabinet minister in the Don Getty government who chaired the committee which produced the Senatorial Selection Act, 1989. He said that when they are elected “it will be next to impossible to renegotiate the distribution of seats. For Alberta, that is the very worst possibility, much worse than abolishing the Senate”.
Customs Controls
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Bloc
Daniel Turp Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, there has recently been an increase in excessive controls by U.S. customs, at the Canadian border.
There are even some members of this House who were subjected to these picky controls and to the rudeness of U.S. customs inspectors.
My question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Given the good relations that exist between Canada and the United States, including at the border, does the minister intend to make representations to put a stop to this unacceptable behaviour on the part of U.S. customs inspectors?
Customs Controls
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Winnipeg South Centre
Manitoba
Liberal
Lloyd Axworthy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, last week we indicated in the House that we are in fact engaged with United States negotiators over these kinds of border issues.
We made it very clear there are very basic standards that we apply. The United States has since sent a letter clarifying the situation, indicating that in fact it was not a U.S. border inspector who went through the search and seizure procedure. We concur with that kind of assessment. What we have to do is get on with the negotiations so that once again we can establish a new model for border crossings that will be the model for the world.
Customs Controls
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Bloc
Daniel Turp Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, in light of the comments recently made by Mrs. Albright during her trip to Canada, regarding the wonderful co-operation that exists between Canada and the United States, does the minister intend to remind U.S. official of the comments she made, so that the situation can get back to normal as quickly as possible?
Customs Controls
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Winnipeg South Centre
Manitoba
Liberal
Lloyd Axworthy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, it always amazes me that when hon. members prepare a supplementary question they do not listen to the answer first.
The fact of the matter is that we have raised the issue with the United States. It has responded to say it was not involved. I would suggest to the hon. member that before he asks a supplementary he get the facts right.
The Senate
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Reform
Charlie Penson Peace River, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Last week we learned that a former business associate of the Prime Minister's, Ross Fitzpatrick, was awarded the latest snooze seat in the Senate. Yesterday we learned that a former employer of the Prime Minister's gets to sit on the board of the Export Development Corporation.
Will the Prime Minister now table all the names of his former employers? That way Canadians will know in advance who his next appointees will be so that they can check their credentials.
The Senate
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
The Speaker
My colleague, I think we are stretching it a bit here. If the Prime Minister wishes to address himself to that question, it is out of order but if he wants to address it, the right hon. Prime Minister.
The Senate
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, for the past five or ten years my employers have been the 35,000 voters in the Saint-Maurice riding who have given me the job of representing them in Ottawa.
The Senate
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Reform
Charlie Penson Peace River, AB
Mr. Speaker, one thing that is becoming clear is that a pattern is developing here. If someone was a business associate or a former employer of the Prime Minister's, they are in line for a patronage appointment.
Will the Prime Minister promise today to discontinue this practice so that Canadians will see some confidence restored in the process?
The Senate
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I said and the Deputy Prime Minister said yesterday that Mr. Robert Fung is a very pre-eminent businessperson in Canada. He serves on three committees. Two of them do not pay him a cent and the other one pays something like $3,000 a year.
I think we should be happy to have people who are willing to devote their time to helping the government give good government to the people of Canada.
Old Age Security
Oral Question Period
2:35 p.m.
Bloc
Maurice Dumas Argenteuil—Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, members of AFEAS, the women's association for education and social action, signed and mailed over 35,000 cards to the Minister of Finance, asking him to make substantial changes to his proposed reform of old age security.
Does the Minister of Finance intend to follow up on the requests and recommendations made by AFEAS?
Old Age Security
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
LaSalle—Émard
Québec
Liberal
Paul Martin Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, I already had very successful discussions with representatives of AFEAS. They raised some very interesting points.
As I already said in this House, it is our intention, when the amendments to the legislation on old age security are introduced, to make some changes.
Film And Television Industry
Oral Question Period
March 24th, 1998 / 2:40 p.m.
Liberal
Joe Jordan Leeds—Grenville, ON
Mr. Speaker, British Columbia boasts the fastest growing film and television production industry in Canada. Major international productions such as the Oscar nominated The Sweet Hereafter , and the highly acclaimed X Files are but two examples of its success.
What has the government done to help British Columbia develop the strongest possible film and television production industry?
Film And Television Industry
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
London West
Ontario
Liberal
Sue Barnes Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question.
The recently announced film or television production services tax credit which is administered by the Department of National Revenue has only been the latest example of our efforts. This extra $55 million in support has helped create jobs in British Columbia, in fact over 12,500 jobs in this particular area. This is wonderful for Canada. It is good for Canadian culture. It is especially good for British Columbia.
Search And Rescue
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Reform
Jake Hoeppner Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, last December a plane crash in Little Grand Rapids, Manitoba took the lives of four people. Weather prevented military aircraft from offering immediate assistance.
John Gibson, a helicopter pilot with 23 years experience, used his training to rescue a woman and a two year old boy from the crash site. Why will the Minister of Transport not give this hero a medal instead of an investigation?