Debates of Feb. 9th, 1999
House of Commons Hansard #177 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was water.
Topics
- Government Response To Petitions
- Canada Labour Code
- Petitions
- Question On The Order Paper
- Committees Of The House
- Supply
- Injury Prevention
- Taxation
- Co-Operative Housing
- Economic Development
- Calgary And Quebec City Information Exchange
- House Of Commons Interpreters
- Government Expenditures
- Publishing Industry
- Homelessness
- Year 2000
- Justice
- Sisters Of Charity Of Quebec
- Government Expenditures
- Junior Achievement Globe Program
- National Film Board Of Canada
- The Late Denise Leblanc-Bantey
- Conscience Rights
- Devco
- Year 2000
- Apec Inquiry
- King Of Jordan's Funeral
- Homelessness
- Kosovo
- Taxation
- Social Union Agreement
- Taxation
- Apec
- The Budget
- Status Of Women
- Year 2000 Bug
- Justice
- National Defence
- Business Development Bank
- Canadian Farmers
- Year 2000
- Jean-Lesage Airport
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Publishing Industry
- Revenue Canada
- Year 2000
- Export Of Candu Reactors
- Homelessness And Poverty
- Publication Industry
- Taxation
- Privilege
- Points Of Order
- Supply
- Division No. 312
- Division No. 313
- Military Missions Beyond The Boundaries Of Canada
- Division No. 314
- Energy Efficiency Strategy
- Division No. 315
- Canadian Human Rights Act
Business Development Bank
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Jim Jones Markham, ON
Mr. Speaker, Yvon Duhaime misled federal officials about his criminal record, has a track record of not paying his taxes or his creditors and sank the first instalment of his federal handout straight into his personal bank account.
In short, he has all the wrong credentials for getting government money, except that he bought a hotel from the Prime Minister and his friends. We already have reports that contractors for the hotel expansion have not been paid.
Can the Minister of Industry assure this House that Duhaime is using the $615,000 loan for the hotel expansion and not for any outstanding personal debts?
Business Development Bank
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
The Speaker
I think the first part of the question would be in order, but I do not know how the minister would know anything about the second part.
Business Development Bank
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Ottawa South
Ontario
Liberal
John Manley Minister of Industry
I agree, Mr. Speaker.
What we know is that the loan was granted in the ordinary course. It was a commercial loan. It was part of a broader financing package that included financing given by private sector lenders. It was not only the Business Development Bank of Canada which advanced money. It was secured by a mortgage, a hypothèque, on the property. It was at commercial rates.
If the member has a problem with the Business Development Bank lending on hotel properties, then he ought to raise it at committee.
Business Development Bank
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Jim Jones Markham, ON
Mr. Speaker, no ordinary Canadian would loan Yvon Duhaime $100, let alone over $800,000 in loans and grants courtesy of the taxpayer. Then again, no ordinary Canadian can spend millions of other people's money on lavish travel. No ordinary Canadian can find high paying political jobs for their relatives.
I ask the Cadillac Prime Minister, who happily cut the ribbon—
Business Development Bank
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington.
Canadian Farmers
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Liberal
Larry McCormick Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced in December that the Government of Canada would provide $900 million of assistance to help producers get through the current farm crisis.
Where are the cheques?
Canadian Farmers
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Egmont
P.E.I.
Liberal
Joe McGuire Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely right. Last December we did announce a $900 million whole farm national disaster assistance program.
In the interim the provinces have been giving money to farmers in need because our payout will be based on income tax returns.
At the February 23 and 24 national safety conference in Victoria the minister will be announcing the final details. Applications will become available in March and the final payout will be made in June, whether or not the provinces are on side.
Year 2000
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Reform
Rahim Jaffer Edmonton—Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, according to a recent human resources development audit it was reported that there is a one in ten chance that essential seniors' benefits could be compromised by the millennium bug problem.
Recently the industry minister launched a PR campaign about the Y2K, telling Canadians not to worry about buying powdered milk.
When was the Minister of Industry going to tell us about the devastating potential effects on essential services to seniors which could possibly leave them high and dry?
Year 2000
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Hull—Aylmer
Québec
Liberal
Marcel Massé President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, these government-wide mission critical systems, as they are called, are being tested regularly. In particular, those mentioned by my hon. colleague have already been tested and we have been told they will work perfectly well, so there should be no fearmongering, especially among senior citizens because their federal pension cheques will be paid.
Jean-Lesage Airport
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Jean-Lesage airport is an important infrastructure for Quebec City's economic development.
However, the manager of the airport transfer, Daniel Paiement, recently stated that the Government of Canada had neither a specific plan for the airport nor any requirements as to its future cost effectiveness.
Does the Minister of Transport interpret the situation in the same way as his official, with no specific objective regarding cost effectiveness?
Jean-Lesage Airport
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Don Valley East
Ontario
Liberal
David Collenette Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, there is a policy on national airports, and this policy works well. We are currently discussing the future of this airport with the people of Quebec City, and I think it will have a great future.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
NDP
John Solomon Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Speaker, the RCMP is short staffed 400 constables. In seven years more than half of the 16,000 member force will be eligible for retirement but no new cadets are being trained at the RCMP training depot in Regina.
Last week the solicitor general said he was giving the RCMP “the tools it needs to fight crime”. What action will the solicitor general take to make sure we have enough RCMP to use these tools to fight crime and can he assure us there will be sufficient funds in the budget to address this dangerous development in police protection?
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Cardigan
P.E.I.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe I will indicate what is in the budget, but I will indicate that I and the RCMP have been dealing with Treasury Board with respect to any shortcomings in funding for the RCMP. We will train the RCMP as we always have in this country.
Publishing Industry
Oral Question Period
February 9th, 1999 / 2:50 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Mark Muise West Nova, NS
Mr. Speaker, for months Canadians have been reading about possible U.S. retaliation over Canada's introduction of Bill C-55. The U.S. has threatened to impose sanctions against a number of our industries, including lumber and steel. The international trade minister's occasional wavering in light of these threats has effectively caused fear amongst our Canadian industries.
Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage assure Canadians that Bill C-55 is an ironclad piece of legislation that could survive any possible U.S. challenge to the WTO or the NAFTA? As well, could she confirm that it conforms with Canada's charter of rights?
Publishing Industry
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Hamilton East
Ontario
Liberal
Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member and his party, and in fact most of the parties in this House for their steadfast and unwaivering support for Bill C-55.
I can say that it is the position of the government that this bill respects every one of our national and international obligations.