Debates of May 9th, 2000
House of Commons Hansard #93 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was tax.
Topics
- Government Response To Petitions
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Committees Of The House
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Canadian Tourism Commission Act
- Sales Tax And Excise Tax Amendments Act, 1999
- Organization Of American States
- Justice
- Women Of Distinction
- Team Canada Atlantic
- Adventure In Citizenship
- Airline Industry
- Public Service Alliance Of Canada
- Premier Of Newfoundland
- Forestry
- St. John's West Byelection
- Environment
- Hibernia
- Forest Biodiversity
- Cantonniers De Magog
- Manitoba
- Youth
- Operation Decode
- Public Service Alliance Of Canada
- Acoa
- Human Resources Development
- National Defence
- Acoa
- Human Resources Development
- Export Development Corporation
- Human Resources Development
- Hepatitis C
- Sierra Leone
- The Environment
- National Defence
- Health
- National Defence
- The Environment
- Immigration
- Airline Industry
- Fisheries
- Immigration
- Presence In Gallery
- Point Of Order
- Sales Tax And Excise Tax Amendments Act, 1999
- Immigration And Refugee Protection Act
- Committees Of The House
- Immigration And Refugee Protection Act
- Employment Insurance
- Division No. 1287
- Division No. 1288
Health
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, what we have shared with the Canadian people will be shared with the House. It is our determination to ensure that nothing happens which will imperil our Canadian health care system. In particular, if bill 11 is adopted nothing in its implementation will imperil the principles of accessibility and universality that we cherish so much. We will monitor what happens on the ground to make sure it does not.
National Defence
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
David Price Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, I received a call yesterday from a Valcartier soldier's family expressing concern that soldiers exposed to TB in Kosovo will soon be back on base. Could the Minister of National Defence tell the House if there are any plans to give medicals before they arrive on base?
National Defence
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
York Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Art Eggleton Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, there is frequently a medical examination of our personnel both before and after return and various debriefing consultations take place to determine whether there are any illnesses physically or mentally of any kind.
I might add that the hon. member's colleague asked an earlier question about TB cases in Cold Lake. I am now informed there are no active TB cases in Cold Lake.
National Defence
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
David Price Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is strange. We have a mother calling saying that her son has it. Also the war in Kosovo has given rise to outbreaks of many other diseases such as TB, of course. These diseases have been kind of forgotten by Canadians. Therefore they are not being immunized for them.
Our soldiers on the ground in Kosovo are being exposed to these diseases. What exactly has been done to protect them in theatre?
National Defence
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
York Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Art Eggleton Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, we take great care in terms of our personnel going overseas to check the environmental conditions. We have environmental experts that go over to check the area that they are to operate in and the areas where they are to set up camp. Full medical services are provided for them.
There are numerous things which we have changed and improved over the years because the quality of life of our personnel, of our troops, is vitally important to us.
National Defence
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Reform
Art Hanger Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, a report released this week claims spousal abuse at military bases is being covered up. This is a very serious allegation. I believe statements like those offered in the report would require immediate reaction on the part of the government. The report obviously is based on specific cases of abuse.
My question is for the defence minister. Will the government investigate any of the specific allegations of abuse made or referred to in the report?
National Defence
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
York Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Art Eggleton Minister of National Defence
The short answer is yes, Mr. Speaker. Any allegations that deal with any wrongdoing in the Canadian forces will in fact be investigated.
This report raises some disturbing incidents. We do not find them acceptable. We will not tolerate violence. We will not tolerate domestic abuse.
It is not exhibited by the vast majority of the people in the Canadian forces who are good, dedicated, decent people, but in cases where it does exist we will deal with it and make sure that the entire chain of command is accountable. We will continue to provide services to the family support centre for abused wives.
The Environment
Oral Question Period
May 9th, 2000 / 2:50 p.m.
Liberal
David Pratt Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. This spring the Ottawa-Carleton region launched its rural clean water program to improve our local water quality.
Could the minister assure the House that on land farmed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada south of Ottawa the department uses best practices to reduce pollution in the waterways that run through the land?
The Environment
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Prince Edward—Hastings
Ontario
Liberal
Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, I am certainly pleased by the program the Ottawa-Carleton region has put in place for sustainable agriculture. It follows the work that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food does on sustainable agriculture and environmental soundness.
The land to which the hon. member refers is about 300 acres of land used for doing corn research. On that land they practise all sound management practices to reduce erosion, to minimize use of fertilizers, to get maximum crops and to detain runoff of anything from that property.
Immigration
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Rosemont, QC
Mr. Speaker, today we have learned that Immigration Canada has just refused to issue visas to 24 African business people who have been invited to the 5th Salon africain et créole Desjardins to be held in Montreal, in which CIDA and the Department of External Affairs are involved, among others.
Do Immigration employees have nothing better to do than to hassle business people who have been invited to an international salon organized by Desjardins and supported by a number of federal ministers?
Immigration
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Thornhill
Ontario
Liberal
Elinor Caplan Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the information is not accurate.
The information I have is that at this point in time applications have not fully been completed in their review. Many applications have not been fully completed and filled out as they should be. A number of requests are under consideration at this time.
I want the member to know that the Department of Citizenship and Immigration takes very seriously the request for visitors visas and people are expected to—
Immigration
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar.
Airline Industry
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Dennis Gruending Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK
Mr. Speaker, people all across Canada are becoming increasingly upset by their air service cutbacks. The Atlantic premiers complained to the Prime Minister earlier this week. My own city of Saskatoon is losing 40 flights a week this year, and those cutbacks are already beginning to do serious harm.
During the airline merger talks the transport minister promised that he would not allow Air Canada to use its monopoly to the detriment of smaller centres. What is the minister prepared to do now to ensure that Air Canada maintains adequate service to Saskatoon and to other smaller cities?
Airline Industry
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Don Valley East
Ontario
Liberal
David Collenette Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the government has brought in a very tough bill that will regulate Air Canada and make sure consumer interests are truly looked after.
I am told by the chairman of the committee that clause by clause consideration will be completed this afternoon. There will be a special commissioner at the Canadian Transportation Agency to oversee all the complaints. That came from the members of the committee.
The Competition Bureau has brought in tougher amendments on predatory behaviour. These are things that parliament is doing to regulate the airline industry.
Fisheries
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Norman E. Doyle St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of fisheries. The minister is well aware of the difficulties some small boat fishermen are having with the regulations pertaining to boat lengths and how they affect their abilities to catch their quotas and earn livings.
At this moment fisheries officers in Newfoundland are actually telling fishermen that they have to cut a piece off their boats to meet the boat length regulations if they want to fish. Will the minister put an end to these costly and insane regulations and allow fishermen to harvest their quotas in the boats of their choice?