Debates of Feb. 29th, 2000
House of Commons Hansard #59 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.
Topics
- Order In Council Appointments
- Government Response To Petitions
- Employment Insurance Act
- Main Estimates 2000-01
- Privacy Commissioner
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Questions Passed As Orders For Returns
- The Budget
- Points Of Order
- The Budget
- International Women's Week
- Niagara Regional Police Service
- Gasoline Prices
- The Budget
- Agriculture
- The Budget
- Michel Dumond
- St. Patrick's Day
- The Budget
- Apec Inquiry
- Public Transit
- The Budget
- The Late Clarence Eugene Hank Snow
- Foreign Policy
- National Parks
- The Budget
- Human Resources Development
- Health Care
- Human Resources Development
- National Defence
- Human Resources Development
- The Budget
- Human Resources Development
- The Environment
- Human Resources Development
- Tuition Fees
- Acoa
- Points Of Order
- The Budget
National Defence
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
York Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Art Eggleton Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, yesterday's budget was good news for the Canadian Forces.
There was a very clear commitment by the government to strengthen the capacity of the Canadian Forces to do their jobs, to help improve the quality of life for our troops, to help make sure they get the equipment they need to do the job, to make sure they get training and education and leadership development programs.
I want to thank the hon. member, members of SCONDVA and members of the finance committee for their support.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Reform
Rahim Jaffer Edmonton—Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, now back to reality. René Fugère is an interesting guy. He can make bureaucrats do a reversal with the mere mention of his name. He can make public money available where none existed before. He can make ministers become interested in projects they ignored before.
Why is it that Mr. Fugère has all of the qualities of the Prime Minister?
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Saint-Maurice
Québec
Liberal
Jean Chrétien Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, this is not in my riding. This is in another riding. There was a letter written to support the project, which I will read:
In light of the importance of these jobs for the Obedjiwan people, and as the member for Champlain, I recommend this project under the transitional jobs fund.
And it is signed: Réjean Lefebvre, regional president, Bloc Quebecois, and secretary treasurer of the national caucus.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Reform
Rahim Jaffer Edmonton—Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, then why was it rejected twice? It seems that René Fugère really does well when he gets out—
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
The Speaker
Order, please. The hon. member for Edmonton—Strathcona.
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Reform
Rahim Jaffer Edmonton—Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, if the Prime Minister says that it was so good, then why was the project rejected twice?
René Fugère seems to do really well when he gets out and about in Ottawa. He does particularly well at HRDC, and we know he is not fond of registering his lobbying activities.
My question is for the HRD minister and it is very simple. Has she ever been lobbied by René Fugère?
Human Resources Development
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre.
The Budget
Oral Question Period
February 29th, 2000 / 2:50 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis Winnipeg North Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, Canadians heard with disbelief and profound disappointment that the government's response to the health care crisis is a one time only, $2.5 billion supplement, spread over four years, divided between health and education. Canadians wanted and expected from this government a lifelong commitment to medicare and all they got yesterday was a one night stand. This budget has been universally dismissed as—
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
Order, please. The hon. member for Winnipeg North Centre.
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis Winnipeg North Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, with respect to health care, this budget has been universally dismissed as a half measure, a band-aid, anemic, paltry and a morsel. Canadians can see it, patients can see it, health care advocates can see it and the premiers can see it. Why can the minister not see it?
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
LaSalle—Émard
Québec
Liberal
Paul Martin Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth budget in a row in which the government has increased health care transfers to the provinces. Last year's budget was the largest single investment this government ever made and it was in health care. Over the last two budgets there has been a 25% increase in transfers to the provinces for health care.
In addition, the Minister of Health has asked his colleagues to meet with him to look at the development of longer term solutions within the context of the protection of universal health care. When that happens this government will be there.
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis Winnipeg North Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, what is clear from this budget is that the government has replaced bracket creep with privatization creep. It is absolutely clear that the paltry initiative on health care in this budget is being interpreted as an open invitation for the likes of Klein and Harris to privatize, Americanize and downsize our public health care system.
Can the Minister of Finance or the Minister of Health not see that this budget leaves the door wide open to private, for profit, two tier health care?
The Budget
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, to lend an air of reality to this discussion the member should know that every year public spending on health in Canada is about $60 billion. This government transfers to provinces a total of $40 billion, so naturally we are playing a major role.
The measures announced yesterday are intended to assist provinces with urgent short term needs. As the Minister of Finance has just observed, I want to work with my colleagues in the provinces on a long term plan. A long term plan will involve long term financing and this government will be there to do its part.