Debates of June 12th, 1998

Employment Insurance

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development answered that question many times.

The employment insurance reform has allowed seasonal workers, women and young people to accumulate the hours of work required to qualify for employment insurance. The system works. In those areas where it does not work, the minister is looking at other options and waiting for the reports to make the necessary adjustments.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

But the hon. member would rather shout than listen to the answer.

Mexico

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I was a member of the parliamentary delegation in Mexico last month. I think all of us were pleased to hear the minister of the interior of that country assure us that his government would never resort to violence to end the insurrection in Chiapas. However, deaths of nine more Mexicans on Wednesday shattered such bland assurances.

My question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. When will the Government of Canada show some intestinal fortitude not only by condemning publicly its NAFTA ally, but also by suspending its export credits and other agreements unless there are ironclad commitments immediately against the Government of Mexico to stop this war against its indigenous people?

[David Kilgour, Liberal, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Palliser for bringing this latest matter to my attention yesterday outside the Chamber.

The member knows very well that the government is extremely concerned about what is going on in Chiapas. We met with him and with the members of the delegation last week as he will recall. I can only assure him in the minister's absence that we continue to monitor the situation very, very carefully. I thank him for bringing this matter to the attention of the House.

Year 2000 Problem

[Jim Jones, Progressive Conservative, Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a serious situation exists in the marketplace today. It is so serious that it undermines the race against the clock that government and industry have been waging against the year 2000 millennium bug. Incredibly it is still possible for consumers to unknowingly purchase Y2K non-compliant computer products.

My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Will he agree to set a date for Y2K compliance of all computer hardware and software devices and incorporate it into the Canadian Standards Act?

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member opposite knows full well that the work on the Y2K program has been extensive within this government and outside with business and industry. The continuous programs as brought forward by the Monty report and the soon to become Statistics Canada report on the progress of the Y2K program is very effective for making sure that this country is ready for Y2K.

[Jim Jones, Progressive Conservative, Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, that is an unacceptable answer. Caveat emptor is an unacceptable response to an issue of this magnitude. Governments and business continue to invest too much money and effort into this battle against the millennium bug to accept such a hands-off approach. October 1, 1998, sell any Y2K non-compliant product after this date and pay the price. What is wrong with this solution?

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, Secretary of State (Science]

Mr. Speaker, as has already been indicated every single initiative by the government has been undertaken to make sure that there is no Y2K problem in the year 2000.

Internally and externally we have been communicating with all the people with whom we do business. We have been advising them of the problem and it is up to them to take the action required. In fact, they can do so even more easily as a result of the announcement of the Minister of Finance yesterday. They can now deduct those initiatives. They can demand that these items be compliant and they will do so.

Youth Employment

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to the President of the Treasury Board. Canada's youth unemployment is nearly double that of any other age group. Thousands of young Canadians are looking for work to complete their education.

As the largest employer in the country, can the President of the Treasury Board tell this House what this government is doing to alleviate this desperate situation for students?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, as part of the federal public sector youth internship program, 94 interns are now acquiring skills at federal worksites in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. This year we are creating an additional 551 internships for graduates, 579 internships for non-graduates and our target of 1,130 is being met. This is an excellent example of co-operation between the federal government and non-government organizations in assisting Canada's youth.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Darrel Stinson, Reform, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of Indian affairs has stood in this House and has said that the B.C. treaty process is working. She knows full well that when she met with the interior chiefs they said no to the B.C. treaty process due to the supreme court decision in the Delgamuukw case.

I would like the minister to state in this House today whether she believes that that supreme court decision is creating great uncertainty in the province of British Columbia, not only with the investment sector but also with all the Indian bands in B.C.

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, as far as I am concerned the only thing creating uncertainty in British Columbia are the members of the Reform Party. They have yet to provide any kind of credible solutions to the issue of settling land claims. They have nothing that is workable. They have nothing sustainable. I would like to quote Chief Joe Mathias of the First Nations Summit who said “Reform's so-called solution is terribly misguided and will create a lot more chaos and economic uncertainty than presently exists in the system”.

Housing Construction In Nunavik

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs.

The federal government has already acknowledged the importance of making up for lost time as far as home construction in Nunavik, Northern Quebec is concerned. Yet it stopped funding housing construction in 1995, and Quebec continues to do this on its own.

Does the minister realize that, apart from not helping solve the housing crisis in Nunavik, her inaction contravenes the James Bay Agreement, which the federal government itself signed.

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, indeed implementing the James Bay-Northern Quebec agreement is a priority for this government and it has to be done in partnership with the province of Quebec.

The issue of housing is one that is great and is spread across this country. Making sure that aboriginal communities have good basic housing, water and sewers is fundamental to their capacity to participate in the Canadian society.

We are working in partnership with the First Nations and in most cases with the province of Quebec to proceed with continuing to alleviate this issue.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Gordon Earle, NDP, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, residential schools operated with the philosophy of “killing the Indian in the child ”. It is time the government showed leadership by directly addressing the multitude of court cases launched by survivors.

In light of the recent B.C. court decision assessing responsibility to both government and the churches, will this government instigate formal talks involving survivors and the churches to try to arrive at a speedy and satisfactory solution, or will the government allow the pain and frustration of the survivors to be drawn out over years of court battles?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, this government has taken concrete action with regard to the issue of the residential school strategy. On January 7th along with my colleague the interlocutor we announced Canada's response to the royal commission. In that we presented a statement of reconciliation to aboriginal people where we identified to those people who suffered physical and sexual abuse at residential schools that it was not their fault. In addition to that we identified $350 million of new money to help communities and assist them in beginning the healing process that is the legacy of the residential school system.

Postal Service

[Mark Muise, Progressive Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's aging population is increasingly choosing to relocate to senior citizen complexes. Many of these seniors find access to their postal services difficult especially during winter conditions.

Could the minister responsible for Canada Post tell this House whether steps have been taken to ensure that all senior citizen complexes are provided with postal delivery?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, Canada Post Corporation is looking into this to ensure that senior citizen residents are receiving the appropriate mail. In New Brunswick because of the change of the restructuring of the 911 we are looking at each individual case. We want to ensure everyone receives their mail and especially that seniors receive their mail where they live.

The Senate

[Rob Anders, Reform, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister appointed five new senators yesterday, including the former president of the Liberal Party's Judy LaMarsh fund and a former special assistant to the Liberal Minister of Finance. Both are unelected and therefore unaccountable.

Will the Prime Minister stop electing Liberal fundraisers to patronage positions? I ask the Deputy Prime Minister, will the PM recognize the will of Canadians and appoint the senators elected in Alberta on October 19?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the people appointed to the Senate pursuant to the requirements of the Constitution are people of distinction in their communities with respect to community work and work in their professions and businesses. We should be pleased that people of that calibre have agreed to serve in the Senate.

I do not think Canadians want the Reform approach of electing people for life without the ability to do anything about it until the age of 75.

If there are people worried about the left wing of the Liberal Party, they should be reassured by the appointment of Senator Mahovlich.

Jean-Lesage Airport In Sainte-Foy

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.

The Jean-Lesage International Airport in Sainte-Foy is one of the airports listed for privatization by the end of this year.

Can the minister give us a progress report on the negotiations under way, and promise us that the deadline will be met?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the government must follow the timetable for transferring the airports to the local communities.

Negotiations are currently under way between the parties in Quebec City, and I intend to see this concluded within the next few months.

Atlantic Groundfish Strategy

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the rumour in this morning's papers is that the government would give the Atlantic provinces and Quebec $550 million for TAGS.

In the month of May alone, thousands of people stopped qualifying for TAGS. They were no longer eligible.

My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Will those who have lost their eligibility for TAGS be able to qualify, or is it just going to be the ones who go off it in August?

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the hon. member with respect to the dollar figure that it is pure speculation. I also want to tell him that this program will restructure the fishery and will look after all those who need it the most.