Debates of March 2nd, 2001

National Defence

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the question. The government puts the needs of Canadian forces members first. That is why the money is being spent in the following manner.

Forty per cent of this money or $250 million is earmarked for increases in pay and benefits for Canadian forces members. Another $214 million will toward clothing, vehicles and other tools our men and women need to do their jobs.

This money, plus the $2.5 billion received by DND in the last two budgets, proves the government's commitment to the needs of the Canadian forces.

Agriculture

[David Anderson, Canadian Alliance, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, this year's budget estimates for agriculture are $470 million less than last year's. The minister said that it was because of some unusual accounting in the supplementary estimates.

However the answer hides the basic facts. Has the minister overstated what the government delivered last year to farmers by $470 million, or has he made $470 million less available this year?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, with the announcement yesterday we will be spending $1.6 billion this year to support Canadian farmers. Last year we spent $1.1 billion.

As I have outlined to hon. members on the other side several times this week, if they want a briefing to explain how the booking of that is done in the estimates, I would be pleased to arrange it. I would ask them to approach the treasury board and its staff. They would be more than pleased to explain it to them.

[David Anderson, Canadian Alliance, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, from the outset the government's farm initiatives and programs have failed to solve the farm crisis in Canada.

The 1998 AIDA applications are finally being completed. With the 1999 applications now being processed, farmers are being told that not only will they not receive assistance for 1999, they will also have to pay back portions of their 1998 payment. This money will then return to the AIDA fund and be reused as farm aid.

Why does the government have more creative accounting practices than it has solutions for farm families in Canada?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a member of a party that for a number of months in the House wanted to make sure the proper amounts went to those who triggered criteria for government assistance, whether they be farmers or other groups. That is what we do to make sure the criteria are met accurately and the proper amounts go there.

When he talks about farm aid, about what the government is doing to help farmers and about spending money to help farmers and other people, he might want to speak to his colleague from St. Albert who asked “Will the spending madness ever end?”

Beauport Bay

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec Port Authority has released its final land use plan.

Amazingly, it is still determined to extend its piers toward Beauport, ignoring the opposition of various regional stakeholders, and of the three Liberal MPs from Quebec, regarding the future of the Beauport Bay.

Since the Quebec Port Authority is refusing to listen and intends to plow ahead regardless of what the public thinks, will the Minister of Public Works and Government Services take action and turn over the property bordering on Beauport Bay to a non-profit organization that will develop its recreational and tourism potential?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am quite surprised the hon. member would ask that kind of question. He was the transport critic for the Bloc when we passed the Canada Marine Act in 1998. He is fully aware of the provisions in that piece of legislation that allow directors to be appointed on the nomination of port users and to reflect the views, the attitudes and the aspirations of the surrounding community.

I am surprised that he makes this kind of accusation, knowing the very competent job now done by the Quebec port authority that represents the local people in the city of Quebec.

Industry

[David Pratt, Liberal, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry. Earlier this morning I had the pleasure of speaking to a grade 10 class at John McCrae High School in Barrhaven. One of the messages I sought to convey to the students was the importance of staying in school.

Since today marks the beginning of National Engineering Week, could the minister tell the House what we are doing to encourage students and young people to pursue careers in science and engineering?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. The Government of Canada has been making investments in the last little while. Investment intentions have been known.

I want to join with all members of the House in commending the Minister of Finance for his excellent stewardship of the country, and hence our ability to make additional investments in universities, in science and technology, and in R and D, and to take the first steps to double R and D spending in Canada.

Those kinds of investments will lead to future bright young women and men taking up the sciences and a role in engineering across the country.

Aquaculture

[Jean-Yves Roy, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec has created the Société de recherche et développement en aquaculture, investing $300,000 in it specifically for research into freshwater aquaculture.

This research should lead to new avenues for the groundfishers hit by the loss of certain species and the negligence of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Could the minister of fisheries confirm in the House his intention to respond affirmatively to the request by the Quebec minister of fisheries that he invest an equivalent sum in this research fund, that—

[The Deputy Speaker]

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

[Lawrence O'Brien, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to the hon. member that the question of aquaculture is an important issue for Canada and certainly for all Canadians.

I reiterate that I will give a longer response next week. We will take this under advisement and report next week to the member.

Finance

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance stated in the House that he is willing to consider revisiting the equalization formula.

The Minister of Industry used a new deal on equalization as a major promise during the past election and that influenced many Atlantic Canadian votes.

Will the Minister of Finance now revisit the equalization formula?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, what the Minister of Industry did during the election campaign was to state, what has been stated in the House on many occasions, that in fact equalization is one of the principal foundations of supporting our growing economy. It is a way in which individual regions of the country are able to help one another.

It is also, which is what the Minister of Industry has said, under constant review. It is under review by our officials now. We will continue to look at it. We will continue to support the equalization program as an essential foundation, despite the fact that the official opposition has consistently attacked it in its programs. We will not allow that party to prevail.

Government Response To Petitions

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to four petitions.

Criminal Code

[Art Hanger, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Northeast, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-291, an act to amend the Criminal Code (violent crimes).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be able to reintroduce this private member's bill. It amends certain provisions of the criminal code relating to life imprisonment.

The bill can be properly characterized as two violent strikes legislation. Anyone who is convicted for the second time of a violent offence shall be sentenced to life imprisonment.

For those who wish to rape, maim, conspire, corrupt and commit all manner of violent acts, this private member's initiative is bad news. For victims and their families, the bill represents a return to the principles of fundamental justice. It means those who repeatedly hurt and prey on the young, the innocent and the law-abiding will spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Let there be no mistake about the intent of the bill: Two violent strikes and the criminal is out for life.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Val Meredith, Canadian Alliance, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-292, an act to amend the Criminal Code (selling wildlife).

Madam Speaker, this bill is an attempt to make the killing or capturing of wildlife and wildlife parts an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.

I want to make it clear that the bill would not apply to acts carried out with a licence, permit or exemption order. The bill is not meant to replace provincial wildlife laws but rather to complement them.

I see the bill as dealing only with the most serious offences in the same manner that the criminal code is used for the most serious driving offences. It has become apparent that provincial laws are not a sufficient deterrent to deal with the multimillion dollar illegal trade in animal parts.

The bill would give provincial wildlife authorities and crown counsel the option to proceed by way of provincial wildlife legislation or the new section of the criminal code. Anyone who is convicted of an offence under this section would be guilty of an indictable offence and subject to a maximum two year sentence for a first offence and three years of incarceration for a subsequent offence. If the animal in question is a threatened or endangered species, the maximum sentence is four years for a first offence and eight years for subsequent offences.

The legislation would include such activity as an enterprise crime so it would be subject to the proceeds of crime section of the code.

It is very important that we make every effort to protect endangered species and animals from the misuse and abuse of hunting and fishing as we know it. People are making extremely large amounts of money by poaching and by illegally killing or capturing species that are sometimes endangered. We need to do more to see that it stops.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Petitions

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of 300 residents of my riding who are calling on the government to de-link economic from military sanctions against Iraq.

[Art Hanger, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by rural route mail couriers. They often earn less than minimum wage and have working conditions reminiscent of another era. They seek the right to bargain collectively to improve their wages and working conditions.

The petitioners call upon parliament to repeal section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act that prohibits them from doing so.

[Dick Harris, Canadian Alliance, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Madam Speaker, I have a petition to present containing several hundred names of residents of Prince George—Bulkley Valley.

They urge the Government of Canada to enact legislation explicitly recognizing the freedom of conscience of health care workers and prohibiting coercion and unjust discrimination against them because of their refusal to participate in matters contrary to the dictates of their consciences. They ask the government to establish penalties for such discrimination and coercion. I support this petition 100%.

[Val Meredith, Canadian Alliance, South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition on behalf of over 600 parents from across Canada who are concerned with the extreme violence and sexual content that is on television.

The petitioners are asking parliament to urge the media and CRTC to act the same as parents and representatives of parents to reduce the sexual and violent content contained in the media.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Madam Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-13, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.