Debates of June 12th, 2000

Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I will remind the hon. member again of the considerable amount of support that this government has given farmers.

We have frozen cost recovery fees. Last Friday I announced $10 million for the agriculture environment strategy initiative to help farmers address the issues of soil management, water management and erosion. The government has been and will continue to be there for farmers.

Rick Casson Lethbridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, some of the user fees that the minister mentioned have gone up 300% since 1995. They are nothing more than thinly veiled taxes.

How can the government justify spending billions of dollars on unnecessary election promises when our primary producers are fighting just to stay on the land?

Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I again remind the hon. member and his party of the incredible cuts that they would make to the agricultural industry. We just need to look at the campaign material Canadian Alliance members had before the last election. Canadian farmers are very pleased that they are not in power.

Caroline St-Hilaire Longueuil, QC

Mr. Speaker, we learned from the weekend edition of La Presse that, according to a report by the official languages commissioner, French and English are far from sharing equal status in the Canadian sports system. This flagrant linguistic inequality is depriving national teams of gifted athletes.

Will the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport finally admit that the best way of helping francophone athletes would be to create a program for elite sport trainers to learn French?

Denis Coderre Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)

Mr. Speaker, according to procedure, the official languages commissioner will table her report on June 14.

I will wait for the report to be tabled so that I can examine its contents, as well as how it is received. I would also point out that I have not waited for questions from the member or anyone else, but have gone ahead and taken action in the last ten months.

Not only have we signed a formal agreement with the Canadian Olympic Association to respect and promote official languages, but I have met with all federations. On the ground, one thing is clear and that is that this government is serious about official languages.

Larry McCormick Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox And Addington, ON

Mr. Speaker, this morning the Minister of Health made an announcement that will improve the health of Canadians living in rural areas.

Can the minister tell the House how the world health program and the Canada Health Infostructure Partnership Program will bring better health services to Canadians who live in rural areas?

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, this morning, in the presence of the government rural caucus in the beautiful Ontario riding of Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh, we announced $130 million for programs and efforts that will strengthen access to quality health care in rural Canada.

The first of these is $50 million for demonstration projects throughout the country, increasing access to doctors, diagnostic services and quality care.

The second is $80 million for electronic patient records and telemedicine.

We believe these investments will strengthen access to quality care for rural Canadians throughout the country.

Werner Schmidt Kelowna, BC

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

Over 50,000 British Columbia homeowners have been devastated by the leaky condo crisis, yet where we see disaster the Liberal government sees an advantage. The government is taxing individuals who are forced to use their retirement savings to pay for repairs and to prevent foreclosures.

These individuals have no choice. They are depleting their life savings to keep a roof over their heads.

When will this Prime Minister—

Werner Schmidt Kelowna, BC

Mr. Speaker, when will this Minister of Finance exempt them?