Debates of April 15th, 1999

Joe McGuire Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, unlike the member, I think the farmers of Saskatchewan know the difference between an application form and a booklet.

The application form is five to twelve pages long. It can be filled out from the income tax forms or from the NISA forms. It is a very simple operation. As soon as they fill them out and send them in we will process the applications and return the money to them.

Norman E. Doyle St. John's East, NL

Mr. Speaker, the exploding seal population is a nightmare for many rural communities in Newfoundland. The seal population is some six million and growing rapidly. It poses a direct threat to the re-establishment of a viable cod fishery. It makes no sense to tie up boats to allow the fragile cod stocks to rebuild if we do not protect cod from all the other hazards including seals.

Does the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans not agree that the cod stocks need to be protected from a growing seal menace which is rapidly wiping out a way of life in rural Newfoundland?

David Anderson Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, the cod crisis came about because the member's party was in power for 10 years and succeeded year after year in ignoring scientific advice and setting the total allowable catch well above what was recommended.

Now they want to ruin another industry in Newfoundland, sealing, and they are going about it the right way. May I suggest to the hon. member that he read what the president of the sealers association said before the parliamentary committee this very day.

Sophia Leung Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. Last week he announced that he accepted all 53 recommendations of the Standing Committee on Health in its report on natural health products.

Many Canadians rely on alternative medicine. Could the minister please inform the House of his plan to ensure safety, access and choice for consumers?

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to natural health products, homeopathic remedies and traditional Chinese medicines, what Canadians want is access and freedom of choice. At the same time they want to know that those products are safe, are of high quality, and are advertised and labelled with truthfulness.

That is why I am so grateful to the committee on health and its 53 recommendations. The government has accepted all of them because we believe that they provide the path to achieve those very goals.

We will appoint an executive director of natural health products. That person will understand natural health products and homeopathic—

Réal Ménard Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC

Mr. Speaker, refugees continue to flee Kosovo and pour into the neighbouring countries by the tens of thousands.

The spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that 20,000 people from the Urosevac region could cross the Macedonian border in the next few hours.

Is Canada continuing preparations to take in Kosovar refugees, should it ever be asked to do so, so we may be ready for any eventuality?

Lucienne Robillard Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, yes, we are still on alert and we are ready to respond immediately to a request from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Gurmant Grewal Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition I ask the government House leader what the business of the House is for the remainder of this week and for next week.

Don Boudria Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, today we will continue with Bill C-68, the youth justice legislation. Tomorrow we shall consider third reading of Bill C-27, the fisheries bill. I do not propose to call any other bill tomorrow.

Monday shall be an allotted day. On Tuesday we shall consider the bill introduced earlier today, namely, Bill C-79 respecting victims of crime. When that is completed we shall return to Bill C-68 and, time permitting, we will begin debate on Bill C-69 respecting criminal records. In any case, we would continue on Wednesday with the items I have just mentioned if some of them have not been completed.

In order to help members make plans, perhaps I could indicate our intentions for the latter part of next week as well, hoping that the House will recognize that it is still preliminary, given that I am giving notice a bit more in advance than usual.

We would propose next Thursday to begin debate on the public service superannuation bill introduced earlier this day, Bill C-78. On Friday of next week we plan to deal with Bill C-64 respecting expositions and/or Bill C-48 respecting marine conservation areas.