Debates of Dec. 17th, 1999

Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows very well that the government put forward nearly $1.1 billion in a two year program. It was estimated at the beginning that an amount of that would be required as a result of the 1998 business year and, therefore, with the targeted approach that everybody asked for, it would go to producers in 1999. As a result, in the 1999 business year the remainder of the money would go to the next year.

I can assure the hon. member that all of the money will go to the producers.

Carolyn Parrish Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, CMHC has spent over $1 million on research and information to address the leaky condo problem through publications, educational programs and seminars. It has offered the $75 million at reasonable interest rates and it has not been taken up by the Government of British Columbia.

I will repeat what I said before. Bureaucrats have warned the Government of British Columbia about its ridiculous policies on these condos. One person said: “My concerns stem from what appears to be a blind pursuit of energy conservation to the complete exclusion of all else, jeopardizing both the health of occupants and structural integrity”. This was written by Mr. Currie in 1991 in a letter to the housing minister of B.C.

Paul Crête Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources Development, who was appointed six months ago, set up all kinds of partisan committees to look at the glaring flaws in the employment insurance program.

Can the minister assure us that she will soon announce corrective measures to provide an adequate income to the unemployed when they are between jobs?

Jane Stewart Minister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we are focused on making sure that Canadians do have opportunities to work. We have good job numbers. We have the lowest unemployment rate in almost two decades. We have the lowest unemployment rate since the early 1970s for women. We are focused on making sure that all Canadians benefit from the ever increasing and improving economy.

Paul Crête Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

Mr. Speaker, among those hardest hit by the minister's program are seasonal workers who, whether the economy is doing well or not, are temporarily out of work every year.

Could the minister assure us, before the Christmas holiday, that immediate measures will be taken for these workers who, since 1997, have been getting poorer and poorer because of the Liberal employment insurance reform?

Jane Stewart Minister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken with seasonal workers, both in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. When I speak with them their interest is to find alternatives for themselves and their children. They understand the importance of seasonal work, but they also want to ensure in their areas that there is a diverse economy, that there is a bright future and that their children can remain in their areas and be able to contribute to the broader Canadian success.

Werner Schmidt Kelowna, BC

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

The national highway system is a network of primary roads that provide for interprovincial and international trade and travel. All, not part of Highway 97 in B.C. qualifies as being part of the national highway system.

When will the Minister of Transport designate all of Highway 97 in B.C. as being part of the national highway system?

Stan Dromisky Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I would point out to the hon. member that last year, and even this year, the leaders of each province and territory met regarding this problem. They have identified 24,400 kilometres in the current national highway system.

The leaders of the government in that province have clearly specified which kilometres will belong to the national highway system.

Gurmant Grewal Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, hardly any farmers qualified for the government's recent aid package. The government has not protected them against foreign subsidies that are killing family farms in Canada. Today the environment minister will announce new endangered species legislation.

How can Canadians believe that the government is going to protect farmers from losses under this new law when it has not protected our farmers from foreign subsidies?

Yvan Loubier Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC

Mr. Speaker, the report by the Liberal majority on the Standing Committee on Finance does not include any recommendation to restore social transfers to the provinces, in spite of the consensus among all the finance ministers of the country and the priority given to this issue by the public.

My question is for the Minister of Finance. Does the Minister of Finance, who has always had a say in the report by the Liberal majority on the Standing Committee on Finance, intend to also dodge the issue in his upcoming budget and thus continue to contribute to the crisis in Canada's health sector?

Jim Peterson Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)

Mr. Speaker, I should remind the hon. member that in our last budget we allocated $11.5 billion to health.