Debates of Sept. 25th, 2001

Terrorism

[James Moore, Canadian Alliance, Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today not the Ottawa Citizen but the Regina Leader-Post is reporting that the RCMP and CSIS are investigating a suspicious person who knew nothing about crop dusters trying to buy a crop duster just prior to the September 11 attack.

Given that the United States has already moved to secure the airports and airplanes in this area, and given the need to enhance security, can the Minister of Transport tell the House what he is doing to make sure that crop sprayers are not going to become the next weapon for terrorists?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, our aviation regulations apply to every aircraft in Canada, including crop dusters. We are well aware of the events in the United States and the actions taken with respect to crop dusters. We are following similar measures in this country for the protection of everyone.

[James Moore, Canadian Alliance, Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Toronto Sun and NBC News have both reported that box cutters were found on board a Toronto-Newark flight on September 11. Air Canada confirms that a plane returned to Toronto and that a post-landing search prompted further investigation.

The American government has been open and honest about the real nature of the terrorist attacks and the threat that it is facing since September 11.

Will the Minister of Transport either tell the press, like his colleague did, that they are wrong or confirm that there was a Canadian connection to the September 11 attack?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has asked this question two or three times in the last week and I have given him a consistent answer. We do not discuss specific security issues as they arise with respect to the safety of planes.

I would ask the hon. member to once again check his facts.

Foreign Aid

[Beth Phinney, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, members on the other side of the House have been calling for a review of, or a stop to, government funding that is assisting the millions of starving people in Afghanistan and surrounding countries. They are claiming that the funds could end up in the hands of the Taliban.

Would the Minister for International Cooperation tell the House what she and her department are doing to ensure that this does not happen?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, first, the allegations that were made by the member opposite were totally irresponsible. We do not give money to the government, let alone the fact that the Taliban was never recognized as a legitimate government by our country. Second, the $1 million that went for humanitarian aid went to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for displaced people, Afghanis in Pakistan.

Quite frankly, we cannot allow millions of people to die of starvation. This is a humanitarian issue and it is our responsibility. We cannot turn our backs on them.

[Brian Pallister, Canadian Alliance, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea are all known as states that sponsor terrorist organizations. Last year alone the federal government gave financial aid to each of these countries totalling over $35 million.

Why does the government talk tough about terrorism while it supports those who sponsor terrorist groups?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member had listened to the previous answer by the minister, he would have understood that we might disagree with governments but when people are starving and we can help, it is the duty of the Canadian government and the Canadian people to help them.

[Brian Pallister, Canadian Alliance, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker, and if there was some reason for justification with confidence, then we could probably support that position. However, CIDA's own internal audits have repeatedly shown that the government and the Prime Minister do not have control over where Canadian taxpayer money earmarked to aid the world's poor actually ends up.

Canadians do not support terrorism. Canadians do not support countries that support terrorism. What is the government doing to ensure that it is not supporting terrorism with Canadian taxpayers' money?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, I find this line of questioning totally horrendous.

We do not support terrorism. All of CIDA's programs are audited. The programs are delivered through non-governmental organizations like CARE Canada, which was in Afghanistan prior to September 11. It was feeding 60,000 women and children, providing loaves of bread. We were not giving money to anyone. Money does not go into the hands of anyone. It is non-governmental organizations that are providing food to people. That is humanitarian assistance. It is not in any way supporting terrorism.

Official Languages

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, during his testimony in committee, the minister responsible for official languages co-ordination said:

If the rate of assimilation were 65%, it would be discouraging.

However the rate of assimilation of francophones in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan is over 70%.

If the minister is discouraged by a rate of assimilation of 65%, it is urgent that he take action. Will he therefore lay out for us, as the official languages commissioner has requested, his plan of action and tell us what resources he intends to devote to changing this state of affairs?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I will try to explain the figures to the member once again.

When two francophones marry, they pass on their mother tongue to their children 95% of the time.

When a francophone marries a bilingual anglophone, they pass on the French language to their children 73% of the time.

When a francophone marries a unilingual anglophone, the percentage drops to only 35%.

The government is determined to strengthen bilingualism and the official languages in Canada. We will do this in a united Canada because that is the only way it can be done.

Science and Research and Development

[Gérard Binet, Liberal, Frontenac—Mégantic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development.

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for science, research and development met last week in Quebec City to discuss matters of common interest.

Could the secretary of state tell us what came out of this meeting?

[Gilbert Normand, Liberal, Secretary of State (Science]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, in Quebec City, the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of science met for the first time since 1992.

All the provinces and territories were represented there and all supported Canada's objective of doubling investment in research over the next 10 years and of becoming the fifth country in the world in this field.

In addition, everyone agreed to promote high level training, the marketing of knowledge, the establishment of broadband Internet, innovation throughout Canada and an improvement in indirect costs to research.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Inky Mark, Canadian Alliance, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister said that his government would not be diverted from its overall plan to focus on health care, education and water safety. Even in light of the recent events in the United States, as immigration was not part of the original overall focus of the government, what exactly is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration doing to get her portfolio on the focus table?

[Elinor Caplan, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that Bill C-11 is at the Senate. It is having hearings next week.

I have asked the Senate to ensure that the bill is passed as quickly as possible. It contains important tools for my department so that we can more quickly identify and streamline our procedures. Everyone knows that at the present time it takes too long, and we feel it is an important tool for us to do what needs to be done for all Canadians.

Airline Industry

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. The minister has said he is looking at whether or not Air Canada might need some assistance in this difficult time.

If he determines that Air Canada needs assistance, would the government consider taking out some equity in Air Canada in return for cash to the airline, which comes from the Canadian taxpayer?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I could take that as a representation from the hon. member. However, we are looking at all aspects of this file to see what is justified, relating of course to the fact that Air Canada had some difficulties which were well known before September 11, and to see how the crisis of September 11 impacted upon it specifically.

We must not forget there are other airlines in Canada and everyone has to be treated equally if we are to assist.

Employment Insurance

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in May, a parliamentary committee unanimously proposed improvements to the employment insurance system.

Yesterday, the government responded, saying that it would wait until the end of the period set by regulation to give its answer.

Today, in the face of the obvious signs of an economic slowdown and in view of the urgency of action, will the Minister of Human Resources Development acknowledge that the time has come to implement these unanimous recommendations by the committee in order to help workers who have been the victims of the recent layoffs?

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to assure the hon. member and tell him that the employment insurance program is sound and it will be there to support the Canadians it is intended to support.

Our most recent monitoring and assessment report indicates that 88% of Canadians in paid employment would be eligible for benefits if they need them. Having said that, the government continues to make improvements in the program, and we need look no further than Bill C-2 for indications of that approach.

Terrorism

[Philip Mayfield, Canadian Alliance, Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in light of the statement by David Harris, the former CSIS chief of strategic planning, declaring that it is guaranteed the terrorists are coming and because of the government's severe cuts to coast guard, naval, army and air forces affecting British Columbia, what is the government doing to restore emergency response services in the British Columbia region of Canada?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a little unclear in his question. Is he talking about emergency response at the airports, which of course has been under some discussion for two years? A draft regulation, Cars 308, is being gazetted and is subject to review? If that is what he is talking about that, I think I just answered his question.

Points of Order

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the right hon. Prime Minister's response to a question from the right hon. member for Calgary Centre indicated wrongfully to the House that in some way the Conservative Party was holding up the formation of committees. That is not in accord with the facts.

In fact, a number of committees have met and under the standing orders, Mr. Speaker, you would be aware that these committees remain in effect for 10 days. I would not want the Prime Minister not to be given the opportunity to correct himself on the record, since this is clearly misleading the House.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if that is a point of order, but Standing Order 104(1) says:

The said Committee shall prepare and report to the House within the first ten sitting days after its appointment, and thereafter, within the first ten days after the commencement of each session and within the first ten days after the second Monday following Labour Day, lists of Members...

That time limit is only three days away. We are waiting for the list of members.

[The Speaker]

There is clearly a disagreement about the facts and there is nothing the Speaker can do to resolve that matter. The members have had their say, and we will move on to orders of the day.