Debates of June 1st, 2001

Bob Mills Red Deer, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice tells a single mom to go to Saskatchewan, to leave her job, to hire a lawyer and to develop her own psychological evidence. Now we have a guy giving ultimatums from prison.

Schneeberger has paid $50 in support in the last three years. This sex offender is now setting the rules for access once he gets out of prison, and he is eligible in November of this year.

We need Lisa's law to prevent the creation of psychological child victims. Will the minister change it now for future kids who might be forced into this situation?

John Maloney Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, we remain committed to promoting positive outcomes for children and their families following a separation or divorce.

We are currently engaged with the provinces and territories in a comprehensive review of the custody and access provisions under the federal Divorce Act and provincial legislation. These public consultations are currently under way.

Our shared goal is to create an effective family law system across Canada that will promote a child centred approach by focusing on children's needs and their best interests.

Francine Lalonde Mercier, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Environment Canada web site contains an invitation to tender with the objective of putting a price on Canada's water resources.

It goes on to say that this price will apply in particular to bulk water exports and to access to groundwater supplies.

Are we to understand from this that the government has moved much further ahead than it lets on, and has even decided to change its position as far as bulk water exports are concerned?

John Manley Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, there has been no change in our policy. We are about to enact Bill C-6, which opposes bulk water sales. There has been no change, and that is perfectly clear.

Francine Lalonde Mercier, QC

Mr. Speaker, in connection with Bill C-6, those who appeared before the committee expressed general concern. The government has just sent a completely contradictory message with this invitation to tender.

Is the government aware that, by asking that a price be put on water, it is giving in to the arguments of those wishing to buy our water, the Americans in particular, and is opening the door to all manner of abuses?

Karen Redman Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, good environmental policy is based on good science. I am reading from the actual website.

It is an initiative to develop a methodology to value water so that it can be applied to a broad range of environmental assets. It is a case of developing indicators to assess environmental value over the long term.

It is simply incorrect to infer that this in any way has to do with bulk water. It is simply not so and we have not changed our policy. The government remains opposed to bulk water removal.

Brent St. Denis Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I am sure he reads the estimates like all of us try to do, but he is aware that Transport Canada invests substantial millions of dollars each year in co-operation with municipalities to enhance safety at crossings.

Transport Canada works with municipalities and their provincial counterpart officials to ensure the most effective use of dollars to deal with dangerous situations. Transport Canada is very responsive in this regard. I encourage the member to examine the estimates more carefully.

Brian Fitzpatrick Prince Albert, SK

Mr. Speaker, the industry is ready to move on this matter. It has been wanting to move on it for quite some time.

The government has been studying the issue for 13 years. Now it tells us it needs time to consult with the territories that have very few crossings. Before more citizens are killed, will the minister take immediate action to make uncontrolled rail crossings safe?

Brent St. Denis Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, just yesterday I met with the president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and he raised a number of very important issues relative to Saskatchewan, but that one was not raised.

Nonetheless it is an important issue and I want to remind the member that under the new Canada-provincial-territorial infrastructure program it is possible, where priorities are set by the province, for funds to be made available to deal with such crossing problems.

Dominic LeBlanc Beauséjour—Petitcodiac, NB

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Cooperation. For some time Atlantic Canadians have felt far away or removed from the Canadian International Development Agency.

Could the minister tell us what steps she has taken to make CIDA more accessible to Canadians who live in the Atlantic provinces?

Maria Minna Minister for International Cooperation

Mr. Speaker, I have been consulting with Atlantic Canadians for some time now, over the last year or so, with respect to accessibility.

This is why two weeks ago I opened a regional office headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, with staff also responsible for Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.

This should facilitate greatly the access of Atlantic Canadians to CIDA programming and break down some of the barriers that I know have existed for some time in the past.

Roy H. Bailey Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

Mr. Speaker, the government has chosen a road of destruction for many Canadian churches. The government has set aside $2 billion, most of which falls into the pockets of lawyers to take clients from former residential schools and then sue the church organizations which provided the education. This is breaking churches across Canada.

I have a question for the Deputy Prime Minister. Will the government continue this until every church in Canada that provided these services is flat broke?

Herb Gray Deputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend is way off base. The government recognizes the churches as valuable social institutions. We do not want to see any church or church organization driven into bankruptcy over any residential school issue.

However there is a matter of shared responsibility. We are carrying out discussions with the churches and eventually with the victims to bring about a fair resolution of the matter much quicker than would otherwise be the case. We do not want to see all the funds of either the government or the churches eaten up in legal fees. I ask my hon. friend to work with me in this regard and not try to politicize this issue.