Debates of May 5th, 2000
House of Commons Hansard #91 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was parks.
Topics
- Canada National Parks Act
- Correctional Service Canada
- National Composting Week
- National Defence
- Regional Development
- Greater Napanee
- French Language Education In Manitoba
- Riverwalk 1999
- Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
- Taxation
- Drinking Water
- Battle Of The Altlantic
- The Prime Minister
- The Netherlands
- Parliament Of Canada
- Emergency Preparedness Week
- Minister Of Canadian Heritage
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Summer Student Employment Program
- Human Resources Development
- Employment Insurance
- Health
- Industry
- The Economy
- Transfer Payments
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Grain Transportation
- Genetically Modified Organisms
- Organized Crime
- Justice
- Cinar
- Forestry
- Justice
- Immigration And Refugee Board
- Newspaper Industry
- Health
- Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- Foreign Affairs
- Rcmp Investigations
- Airline Industry
- Disaster Assistance
- Transport
- International Trade
- The Environment
- Liberal Party
- Health
- Presence In Gallery
- Privilege
- Points Of Order
- Government Response To Petitions
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Canada National Parks Act
- Labelling Of Genetically Modified Foods
- Cape Breton Development Corporation Divestiture Authorization And Dissolution Act
- Labelling Of Genetically Modified Foods
Grain Transportation
Oral Question Period
11:35 a.m.
Don Valley East
Ontario
Liberal
David Collenette Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the intention is to try to meet the deadlines for the crop year beginning August 1 and that will mean legislation brought into the House of Commons very shortly to deal with the issues raised in the Estey and Kroeger process, which have been the subject of many consultations across the country for the past two years.
Given the hon. member's enthusiasm for such changes toward a more competitive system, I hope that he and the members of his party will support that legislation expeditiously when it reaches the House.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Oral Question Period
11:35 a.m.
Bloc
Hélène Alarie Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, either the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is ill-informed about GMOs or he has his head in the sand.
On April 12, 2000, the European Parliament introduced mandatory labelling of foods with a GMO content of more than 1%. The legislation also covers foods containing food flavourings and additives made from GMOs.
Given that the European Union has the technology and the criteria for the mandatory labelling of GMOs, are we to conclude that the Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is less competent and that he has no wish to take action?
Genetically Modified Organisms
Oral Question Period
11:35 a.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the government believes that consumer information as it relates to biotechnology and food must be meaningful, credible and enforceable.
The European approach, to which the hon. member has referred on many occasions with apparent approval, is one that has the appearance of effectiveness, but in fact at the root of it the Europeans do not have the capacity to make their system meaningful, credible and enforceable. Therefore their approach is largely a mirage.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Oral Question Period
11:35 a.m.
Bloc
Hélène Alarie Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, given that the Laboratoire d'environnement SM in Quebec and Genserve Laboratories in Saskatchewan can detect GMOs, does the minister realize that his explanations are devoid of logic and that he is losing all credibility on this issue?
Genetically Modified Organisms
Oral Question Period
11:35 a.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the government is working very hard to ensure that all consumers in Canada have the information which they need.
First of all, we are investing in the science to ensure that it is first class. Second, we are investing in the regulatory system to ensure that Canadians can have confidence in the science. Third, we are engaging in a broad consultation with Canadians to get their input and their advice about how they want their system to be run.
Organized Crime
Oral Question Period
May 5th, 2000 / 11:40 a.m.
Reform
John Reynolds West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, Robert Fahlman, former RCMP criminal intelligence officer, said, “The Mounties were disappointed with CSIS stopping sidewinder ”. Robert Proulx, director of RCMP criminal intelligence, wrote the director of CSIS arguing that the original sidewinder report was altered, sometimes incorrectly, and in some cases some information was completely removed.
Is the solicitor general still standing by his story that sidewinder was not shut down, or is he saying that statements of RCMP officers are untrue?
Organized Crime
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Cardigan
P.E.I.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I would like to clear up this subject once and for all. First, sidewinder was not an investigation, it was a study. Second, it was not shut down, it was completed. In fact the RCMP and CSIS both indicated it was an excellent report.
Justice
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Reform
Chuck Cadman Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, two days ago a man got three and a half years in prison and an eight year driving ban for killing a man while impaired. Yesterday another drunk driver went home with a two year conditional sentence for killing Ellen Katarius, a single mother of four.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving has complained for years about conditional sentences for impaired driving causing death. Parliament is considering a maximum life sentence for the offence while the courts continue to impose conditional sentences.
What does the Minister of Justice have to say to four motherless children? Where is the justice in all of this?
Justice
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Edmonton West
Alberta
Liberal
Anne McLellan Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows the Supreme Court of Canada recently rendered a judgment that provides guidance to lower courts in relation to the use of conditional sentences. In addition, I know the hon. member is aware, since he is a member of the justice and human rights committee, that I have asked that committee to do a thorough review of the use of conditional sentences within this country. I look forward to receiving that report from the committee.
Cinar
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Bloc
René Laurin Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage promised to get to the bottom of the CINAR affair. But the Minister of National Revenue is refusing to answer questions and, according to an RCMP officer, investigators' hands are tied, which was not contradicted by the RCMP yesterday.
Has the solicitor general received an internal investigation report from Revenue Canada on the basis of which he could decide whether or not to lay charges?
Cinar
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Cardigan
P.E.I.
Liberal
Lawrence MacAulay Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as I have said a number of times in the House, there is excellent co-operation between Revenue Canada and the RCMP. In fact, yesterday a media advisory was put out by the RCMP that there exists a strong co-operative relationship between the two organizations. I do not know how it could be much clearer.
Forestry
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
John Richardson Perth—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, next week is Forestry Week in Canada. I ask the Minister of Natural Resources, how is the government planning to recognize the important role that forestry plays in the lives of many Canadians in this country?
Forestry
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, next week is indeed Forestry Week across Canada. Activities will be planned right across the country. We are kicking it off this afternoon on Parliament Hill. The Deputy Prime Minister and I will be planting Canada's new millennium tree within the precincts of parliament.
We will also be honouring five young Canadians who are the winners in an essay contest about the future of Canada's forests. They are Marie-Hélene Basque of Rouyn, Quebec; Alison Stacey of Vernon, British Columbia; Iva Veukin of Mississauga, Ontario; Jay Potter of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; and Krysta Noseworthy of Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. I know all hon. members will want to join me in congratulating them.
Justice
Oral Question Period
11:40 a.m.
Reform
Bill Gilmour Nanaimo—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, recently Stephen Truscott cleared his name on a wrongful murder conviction. During that inquiry the justice minister said that she takes allegations of wrongful conviction very seriously.
Two months ago the minister denied a new trial for Patrick Kelly, despite the fact that the key witness admitted she lied on the stand and one judge from the Ontario Court of Appeal called for a new trial for Kelly.
Given that the key witness lied on the stand, why did the minister choose to deny Patrick Kelly a new trial?
Justice
Oral Question Period
11:45 a.m.
Edmonton West
Alberta
Liberal
Anne McLellan Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member is probably aware, my predecessor provided Mr. Kelly with a section 690 remedy in referring the case to the Ontario Court of Appeal. The Ontario Court of Appeal rendered its judgment some months ago.
I have reviewed that judgment as well as information and submissions made on behalf of Mr. Kelly. After a thorough review of that information and the judgment of the Ontario Court of Appeal, I concluded that there was no basis to seek a retrial or referral of Mr. Kelly's case to any other judicial body.