Debates of May 29th, 2001

Elinor Caplan Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, if the member had given me notice of his question I would have had an answer for him today. I am not familiar with the case. I will be pleased to look into it.

Philip Mayfield Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC

Mr. Speaker, after working, contributing to our community, raising her family, paying taxes and voting for 55 years, I am appalled that Ivy Tauber can summarily be disenfranchised. She was a Canadian citizen and has proof of that.

Why and when was that citizenship revoked? Who has the authority to summarily revoke it? Will the minister reinstate Tauber's citizenship? Would it help if Tauber had voted Liberal?

Elinor Caplan Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, the suggestion that the member makes is clearly ludicrous. It does not matter how a person votes in this country as to what his or her citizenship is.

What I know is that there is often more to the story than what the member opposite has to suggest. I would be pleased to look into this case. If in any way something inadvertent has been done it can be corrected, but often there is a situation. If the member would give me the information, I would be pleased to look into it.

Sarkis Assadourian Brampton Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry. Presently there are more restrictions on interprovincial trade than there are on international trade. Interprovincial trade barriers impede the free flow of goods and services between Canadians and stifle the economic development of Canada.

Could the minister tell the House what efforts have been made by the Canadian government to promote the removal of impediments to interprovincial trade in these changing economic times?

John Cannis Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for Brampton Centre for his question and acknowledge his interest in the issue.

Over the years the government has been a strong advocate of reducing interprovincial trade barriers. Let me point out the agreement that was signed on international trade with the provinces, the territories and Yukon in 1994.

Let me also point out that there was a meeting in April of all ministers. They put forth an agenda which will culminate in a meeting of all ministers on May 31 to June 1, basically to work on reducing trade barriers within our country.

Gurmant Grewal Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada knows that the multicultural minister has slurred communities. Today at the heritage committee she insisted that she did not need cultural sensitivity training, even though she promoted this training for everyone else.

Will the Prime Minister demand that his junior minister receive her own training?

Hedy Fry Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)

Mr. Speaker, while we are on the question of cultural sensitivity training, I would like to quote the hon. member across the way when he said:

The focus of the federal government's multicultural activity should be on enhancing the citizenship of all Canadians based on equality and not on race, language, culture and ethnicity.

We cannot enhance the equality unless we understand the barriers that people face to achieve it. I invited the hon. member to come with me to listen to Canadians across the country when I went on eight regional consultations. He told me that—

Gurmant Grewal Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, that person needs help anyway. This morning the minister told the heritage committee that her department policy is to not share daily press clippings with the opposition critics.

Canadian taxpayers are paying for this service. This is the only department that has an official policy not to provide press clippings. Why is it denying the opposition critics this information? Why the secrecy?

Don Boudria Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker—