Debates of Oct. 26th, 2001

Alfonso Gagliano Minister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, right now we are facing an emergency situation and therefore we will collaborate with our neighbours and make sure that everyone is protected.

In the meantime, if Canadian industry also makes available Canadian manufactured tools that we can use, our objective is to make sure that our more than 50,000 postal employees are protected and all Canadians are protected. The Canada Post administration will do everything in its power to ensure that protection.

Marcel Gagnon Champlain, QC

Mr. Speaker, we recently learned that over 380,000 Canadians are not receiving the guaranteed income supplement, even though they are eligible for it.

We are talking about millions of dollars that Human Resources Development Canada is literally stealing from the neediest members of our society.

Does the Minister of Human Resources Development intend to eliminate the 11 month retroactivity threshold, so that elderly people will receive the money that is owed to them?

Raymonde Folco Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, we are well aware that the guaranteed income supplement issue is now being reviewed by the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development, on which I sit, and that we are almost ready to submit a report to the minister.

As soon as that report is in the hands of the minister, we will see how she will react to it.

Stan Dromisky Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON

Mr. Speaker, the communal licence issued to the Burnt Church First Nation for the food, social and ceremonial fishery this fall expired at midnight last Saturday.

The expiry of the licence marks the end of a fishery that many Canadians anticipated with concern. Many aboriginals and non-aboriginals around Miramichi Bay wondered if the fall of 2001 would bring a repeat of the open conflicts of 1999 and 2000.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans report to the House on the state of affairs of the fisheries affected by the supreme court's Marshall decision?

Scott Reid Lanark—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, the United Kingdom and the United States, the two key players in the war on terrorism, understand that enhanced police powers must be coupled with stronger checks and balances. Both countries have passed provisions for compensation of people whose property or whose person is arrested wrongfully through new anti-terrorism laws.

If the government will not allow for a sunset clause as a way to protect Canadian civil liberties, will it amend Bill C-36 to guarantee full financial compensation for any Canadian who may be wrongfully detained in the new anti-terrorism dragnet?

Stephen Owen Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, there are well established rules in Canadian law for governments to be held civilly liable for mistaken actions by police or by prosecutors. Of course these civil remedies will always be available to Canadians who may have their rights infringed in any way by public authorities.

Lucienne Robillard President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, I thought I made it very clear yesterday. I said that the equity settlement applied some months ago was solely for employees whose employer was treasury board.

However, as far as the separate employers are concerned, if they are able to demonstrate that they have a pay equity problem within their organization, treasury board is prepared to support them and has, moreover, already done so in some cases. That is the context within which treasury board can intervene.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis Winnipeg North Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the health minister said he has strong views when it comes to the multinational drug industry. Certainly this week he has shown he does not have much respect for the drug patent act.

It would certainly be nice to know if there is going to be more to the health minister's position than just tough talk. Would he end this difficult week for him by clearing the air and indicating to all Canadians, does he support the Mulroney drug patent act, yes or no?

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I know it is Friday and the opposition is limping lamely toward the end of the week exhausted from five days of chasing its own tail. Even to those members it must be obvious that what the issue of this week has been about really is the protection of public health, will Canadians have access to what they need to be protected in these difficult and dangerous times.

It is clear also this government, this minister and Health Canada have acted to protect public health. We have what we need on good terms for Canadians. We will continue to do what we have been doing.

Loyola Hearn St. John's West, NL

Mr. Speaker, earlier today the solicitor general said “We have beefed up the coast guard by requiring them now to call in 96 hours in advance”. His own people, the people in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans responsible, will tell us the onus is on the captain to make the call. If a boat does not call we do not know it is in our waters because cutbacks have caused the coast guard to be almost eliminated, 20% coverage by radar.

Should not terrorists at least have to have a reservation confirmed before we let them into the country?