Peter Stoffer, "Fisheries" on April 10th, 2000

Option Canada
Oral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Edmonton North
Alberta

Reform

Deborah Grey Leader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, today the heritage minister talked about 100 pages of documents that came forward, but frankly those pages might just as well be blank because they have not given the information that Canadians want.

She has dodged in the House time and time again, two years ago as well as today, one very simple question that she needs to answer. What happened to the $5 million she gave to Option Canada? Where is the money?

Option Canada
Oral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Hamilton East
Ontario

Liberal

Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, included in the over 100 pages of documents that were given out two years ago on a grant that was issued almost five years ago were responses from the auditor general.

I am sure the member will be very happy to read the characterization of the work of the auditor general.

Option Canada
Oral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Roberval, QC

Mr. Speaker, with respect to the hundreds of pages of documents that the minister says she tabled, I would respectfully remind her that the auditor general wrote her as follows on April 20, 1998:

We note, however, that while this additional information is useful, it does not make it possible to determine with sufficient accuracy the nature of the activities that took place and the results achieved.

Two days later, the auditor general added that it could be considered misappropriation of funds.

Does the minister not think that she has a moral duty to tell the public what she did with its money?

Option Canada
Oral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Hamilton East
Ontario

Liberal

Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, I was the one who gave the letter to the member opposite, obviously because we wanted to ensure that the audit was complete. I think that the auditor general was very respectful with respect to the clean-up that we did.

Fisheries
Oral Question Period

April 10th, 2000 / 2:55 p.m.

NDP

Peter Stoffer Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS

Mr. Speaker, while it is springtime in Atlantic Canada and the temperatures are starting to rise, unfortunately they are also starting to rise in the fishing villages in all of Atlantic Canada between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people.

My question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Exactly what is he and his government doing at this time, prior to the May 1 opening, to calm the tensions that are happening right now in non-aboriginal and aboriginal fishing communities throughout the maritime region?

Fisheries
Oral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Vancouver South—Burnaby
B.C.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the hon. member because he put out a press release calming matters. This is the type of co-operation we need.

I want to also tell the House that as of today we have signed up eight interim agreements. We have eight agreements in principle. We are halfway there. We are continuing the hard work. I think the co-operation of the hon. member has shown that is the way we can move forward and make sure we bring communities together and resolve this issue.

Gun Registry
Oral Question Period

3 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Peter MacKay Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.

Given that her department has just received the allotment of money for the coming year and given that there are a number of very important policing matters and justice matters before the country, is her department prepared to continue to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into a registry system that is overbureaucratic and proven not to work with respect to the prevention of crime within the country?

Gun Registry
Oral Question Period

3 p.m.

Edmonton West
Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talks about a registry system that does not work. Let me share with the House that since December 1, 1998 over 3,600 potentially dangerous gun sales were sent for further investigation, 690 licence applications have been refused, and 832 licences have been revoked. We are at work making Canada safe for all Canadians.

Government Response To Petitions
Routine Proceedings

3 p.m.

Scarborough—Rouge River
Ontario

Liberal

Derek Lee Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the standing orders I have the honour to table in both official languages the government's response to four petitions.

Committees Of The House
Routine Proceedings

3 p.m.

Liberal

Susan Whelan Essex, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the third report of the Standing Committee on Industry on the subject matter of Bill C-229, an act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (letter that cannot be transmitted by post).

The committee would like to acknowledge the work of the member for Kitchener Centre on this issue and to thank the witnesses for participating in our discussions.