Debates of Feb. 1st, 1999
House of Commons Hansard #171 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was first.
Topics
- Fishers' Bill Of Rights
- Business Of The House
- Fishers' Bill Of Rights
- Business Of The House
- Finance
- Kangiqsualujjuaq Tragedy
- Norbert Reinhart
- White Cane Week
- The International Year Of Older Persons
- Women's Hockey
- The Prime Minister
- The 1999 Federal Budget
- Justice
- Taxation
- Economic Development
- Kangiqsualujjuaq Tragedy
- Justice
- Louise Arbour
- Parti Quebecois
- International Development Week
- Black History Month
- Human Rights
- Taxation
- Health Care
- Justice
- Ethics Counsellor
- Health
- Revenue Canada
- Employment Insurance
- Justice
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Property Tax
- Trade
- Devco
- Employment Insurance
- Railways
- Child Pornography
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- Copyright Board
- Devco
- Economic Development
- Columbia
- Points Of Order
- Business Of The House
- Privilege
- Government Response To Petitions
- Committees Of The House
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Questions Passed As Orders For Returns
- Finance
- Railway Safety Act
- First Nations Land Management Act
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Reform
Lee Morrison Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.
In 1994 the government made a deal with Shearwater Development Corporation, a Nova Scotia company owned by a prominent Liberal, Charles Keating, to develop a private industry at the Shearwater naval base. The company is now pulling out and stiffing a creditor for $500,000.
How many millions of dollars did ACOA contribute to this boondoggle and where did the money go? Will the minister immediately launch an investigation into this sweetheart deal?
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bonavista—Trinity—Conception
Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Fred Mifflin Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has his facts half right and half wrong.
What ACOA did was to ameliorate in Atlantic Canada areas in which the defence department reduced its infrastructure in Shearwater as well as in Cornwallis and other areas. ACOA took great interest in developing the management agency as it did in Argentia and in other parts of Atlantic Canada.
We worked with the management association, the management organization which is still in place and is still doing a good job in trying to ameliorate change in—
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Mercier.
Copyright Board
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is concern among authors.
According to section 16 of the Official Languages Act, the five members of the Copyright Board must be bilingual. Yet the Minister of Industry has already appointed two unilingual anglophones to this board and is apparently preparing to make one of these two head of the board.
Can the Prime Minister assure us that his Minister of Industry is going to respect the Official Languages Act by appointing a bilingual person with recognized ability to this position?
Copyright Board
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Ottawa South
Ontario
Liberal
John Manley Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, we are in the process of examining appointments to the board, and as soon as we are prepared to name the other candidates, the hon. member can be assured that we will comply with all legislation.
Devco
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Mancini Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, earlier today the finance minister boasted about the legacy of the Liberal Party. My question is for the Prime Minister who may remember the legacy of Lester Pearson.
After broken promises of full consultation the government through the Minister of Natural Resources betrayed the people of Cape Breton, betrayed its own legacy. Shame on them. Only a third of the miners who have spent 25 years underground may qualify for a pension.
Will the Prime Minister honour this legacy by guaranteeing a full pension for the majority of the workforce of those people at Devco?
Devco
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, I invite the hon. gentleman to look at the terms of the human resources package with great care, particularly after the corporation has had the opportunity to discuss some of the details with the unions. The unions may have some suggestions to make for modifications.
He will find that the average severance payment in this case will be in the neighbourhood of $70,000 per person plus training allowances on top of that. In comparison to other situations in Atlantic Canada this package compares very favourably.
Economic Development
Oral Question Period
February 1st, 1999 / 2:55 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Gerald Keddy South Shore, NS
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.
The minister's department has stated that one-third of the $200 million earmarked for Devco will be spent on an economic development package for Cape Breton. That works out to $68 million for economic development. This is just not enough.
What guarantee can the minister give that the $68 million earmarked will not go to companies with Liberal Party connections?
Economic Development
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, I have indicated repeatedly long before today that any economic development package would need to be developed in very close collaboration with the local community, including Mayor Muise and others in the Cape Breton community who have vital input to make into the entire package. This one needs to be built from the ground up and shaped by Cape Bretoners.
In addition to the $68 million referred to in the question, there is $80 million to be invested by ACOA and Enterprise Cape Breton over the next three to four years.
Columbia
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Liberal
Sarkis Assadourian Brampton Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister for International Co-operation.
Following the tragic earthquake that has devastated the city of Armenia in Columbia leaving tens of thousands in need of assistance, can the minister tell the House what the government is doing to help the victims of this earthquake in Columbia?
Columbia
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Sudbury
Ontario
Liberal
Diane Marleau Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie
Mr. Speaker, Canada is providing $750,000 in humanitarian assistance. Canada, by the way, was the first country to respond as part of this through the Canada fund.
We will also examine our regular program to see how we can help in the long term reconstruction.
Points Of Order
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Diane St-Jacques Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following important motion, seconded by the hon. member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough.
I move:
That, in the opinion of this House, section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code continues as a positive instrument protecting the rights of children to be free from all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Points Of Order
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
The Speaker
I take it the hon. member is asking for unanimous consent to put the motion. We have a motion to proceed without debate, as I understand, waive notice of motion.
Points Of Order
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Reform
Randy White Langley—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, while we agree with this statement, before I give unanimous consent, the House cannot allow more lawyers and judges to decide on our behalf. Tomorrow we will force debate and a vote on this issue. Could we not further debate this today seeing that—
Points Of Order
Oral Question Period
3:05 p.m.
The Speaker
We are getting into debate. The motion is very simple, to waive debate today and go directly to the motion.
Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?