Debates of Oct. 4th, 2000
House of Commons Hansard #126 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.
Topics
- The Late Right Hon. Pierre Elliott Trudeau
- Taxation
- Canada Olympic Team
- Economic Development
- Biennale De Montréal 2000
- Prostate Cancer
- World March Of Women
- Ralph Shonk
- Franco-Ontarian Flag
- Daniel Igali
- World March Of Women
- Banking
- Organized Crime
- Shipbuilding Industry
- Social Programs
- Human Resources Development
- Budget Surpluses
- Health
- Auditor General's Report
- Health
- Human Resources Development
- Women's March
- Human Resources Development
- Shipping
- Human Resources Development
- Middle East
- Human Resources Development
- The Environment
- Employment Insurance
- Children
- Human Resources Development
- Auto Industry
- Health Care
- Prisons And Penitentiaries
- Presence In Gallery
- Business Of The House
- Government Response To Petitions
- Ways And Means
- Canada Health Care, Early Childhood Development And Other Social Services Funding Act
- Canada Foundation For Sustainable Development Technology Act
- Food And Drugs Act
- Petitions
- Question Passed As Order For Return
- Motions For Papers
- Employment Insurance Act
- Business Of The House
- Employment Insurance Act
- Privacy Commissioner
- Division No. 1394
- Marine Conservation Areas Act
- Division No. 1395
- Division No. 1422
- Division No. 1397
- Division No. 1418
- Division No. 1398
- Division No. 1404
- Division No. 1406
- Division No. 1409
- Division No. 1413
- Division No. 1414
- Division No. 1416
- Division No. 1419
- Division No. 1423
- Division No. 1421
- Division No. 1424
- Cultural Industry
- Division No. 1425
- Emergency Service Volunteers
The Environment
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
NDP
Dennis Gruending Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, with values like this, who needs the Alliance?
The minister's government signed away powers to Mike Harris in 1997. The minister has given his officials no time line to report back to him on an assessment and he has simply ignored the first nations impact of the mine. What a great environmentalist. He cannot get his endangered species bill passed let alone stop 20 million tonnes of garbage being dumped into the water table.
Will the minister stop making excuses and finally announce a federal environmental assessment?
The Environment
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Victoria
B.C.
Liberal
David Anderson Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, given the performance of the New Democratic Party, it is understandable why the endangered species legislation is very high on their minds.
I would suggest to the hon. member that we will not unduly and improperly pressure agencies which parliament set up to be independent of the executive of the Government of Canada.
Employment Insurance
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Jean Dubé Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, last year, the auditor general asked the government how the employment insurance commission set the EI premium rate.
My question is a very simple one. Why is this not indicated in Bill C-44? What is the government hiding?
Employment Insurance
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
LaSalle—Émard
Québec
Liberal
Paul Martin Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it should be clear to the member from the legislation introduced by the minister that all this will be examined. A response will be provided in due course.
Employment Insurance
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Loyola Hearn St. John's West, NL
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. The premium rate is much higher than necessary, even according to HRDC's own actuary. Will the government take decisive action on this hidden tax on employment and reduce the premium to at least $2 right now?
Employment Insurance
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
LaSalle—Émard
Québec
Liberal
Paul Martin Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member would take a look at the history of decisions taken over the last number of years, he will see that what we have done is to adopt the recommendations of the commissioners. That is the way the situation worked. What he should also take a look at is that each and every year since we have taken office those premiums have come down. In the seven years prior to our taking office, the seven years in which his party was in office, every single year those premiums went up.
Children
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Nancy Karetak-Lindell Nunavut, NU
Mr. Speaker, by now most Canadians are aware that on September 11 the Prime Minister and the first ministers reached a historic agreement on health care. What has not received quite as much public attention is that an equally important agreement was also reached to help young children and support their families.
Can the Secretary of State for Children and Youth please tell the House what the government hopes to achieve with the agreement on early childhood development?
Children
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Western Arctic
Northwest Territories
Liberal
Ethel Blondin-Andrew Secretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, on September 11 the Government of Canada entered into a $2.2 billion agreement with the provinces and territories. The agreement reached covers four areas: promoting healthy pregnancy and infancy; improving family support; strengthening early childhood development; and strengthening community support.
Public reaction has been very positive. This new partnership approach is social policy that will make a difference and will bring hope to all children of the country.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
October 4th, 2000 / 2:50 p.m.
Reform
Diane Ablonczy Calgary—Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, I want to give the HRDC minister one last opportunity to explain, giving a simple explanation, as to why write-offs of money owed to her department have increased so dramatically, 700%, since she became minister. We are suggesting that she cannot do her job. Perhaps that is wrong. There may be a good reason for this.
Would the minister please clear this up so that Canadians will know what they can expect from the minister?
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Brant
Ontario
Liberal
Jane Stewart Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, first I would let the hon. member know that we have a two year project with treasury board to do our best to clean up outstanding debts. That is why she has seen an increase in write-offs.
Since she asked me the very question about whether or not I can do the job, would she ask her leader why during the time he was treasurer there was over $409 million in total write-offs to companies like Centennial Food Corporation for $11.7 million, to Gainers for $421,000, to North Saskatchewan Riverboat for $500,000, to ALPAC, and there are more. The point is—
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Rosemont—Petite-Patrie.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Rosemont, QC
Mr. Speaker, again relating to the transfer of grant money from Rosemont to Saint-Maurice, the minister seems to be hiding the truth from us.
For some months now—
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
Order, please. I would ask the hon. member to be very judicious in his choice of words.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Rosemont, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the transfer of grant money from Rosemont to Saint-Maurice, there is one thing that appears clear, and that is that for some months now the minister has always refused to answer our questions.
The public accounts report is clear: there is a figure of $165,984 under the heading “Losses of public money due to an illegal act”. My question is a simple one: Is the minister telling us the whole truth and what is it she wants to cover up in Saint-Maurice?