Debates of Nov. 20th, 2002
House of Commons Hansard #28 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers}.
Topics
- University of Guelph
- Senate of Canada
- Human Rights
- Science and Technology
- National Child Day
- Vanessa Bilodeau and Catherine Mongeau
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier
- Young Offenders Act
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier
- National Child Day
- Sir Wilfrid Laurier
- Employment Insurance
- Kyoto Protocol
- Terrorism
- Taxation
- North American Free Trade Agreement
- Book Publishing Industry
- Health
- Financial Institutions
- Goods and Services Tax
- Budget Surplus
- Goods and Services Tax
- Budget Surplus
- Criminal Code
- Africa
- Health
- Correctional Service Canada
- Goods and Services Tax
- Immigration
- Securities
- National Defence
- Multiculturalism
- Coast Guard
- Iraq
- Infrastructure
- National Defence
- Presence in Gallery
- Public Safety Act, 2002
- Supply
- Privilege
- Points of Order
- Office of the Ethics Counsellor
- Government Response to Petitions
- Committees of the House
- Criminal Code
- Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
- Official Languages Act
- Fishers' Bill of Rights
- Health Information Privacy Act
- Petitions
- Appendix to
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Question No. 24
- Question No. 27
- Question No. 28
- Motions for Papers
- Request for Emergency Debate
- Parliamentary Reform
- Canada Labour Code
Employment Insurance
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
Loyola Hearn St. John's West, NL
Mr. Speaker, the government has been warned for years that billions of dollars in GST rebates are vulnerable to fraud, but has done nothing to close the loopholes. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency says that it is impossible to estimate the losses from GST fraud.
It is ironic that while Revenue Canada does not have the resources to deal with this major issue, it is spending time and effort arresting ordinary fisherpersons in the Newfoundland community where over 40 fisherpersons have had EI payments suspended because of an anonymous letter it mysteriously received.
Before any investigation took place, HRDC, along with Revenue Canada, withheld these people's only source of income, which is critical especially during the Christmas season. Earlier this morning I wrote to both of the appropriate ministers expressing my disgust over the matter and I asked that they immediately reinstate payments to these people until such time as an investigation is complete.
How can the government justify ignoring the loss of billions of dollars while they have all the pertinent information--
Employment Insurance
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
The Speaker
Order, please. Oral questions. The hon. leader of the official opposition.
Kyoto Protocol
Oral Question Period
November 20th, 2002 / 2:15 p.m.
Calgary Southwest
Alberta
Canadian Alliance
Stephen Harper Leader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, on Monday the Minister of the Environment told the House that he could not agree to all the principles put forth by the provinces for support of Kyoto. He specifically singled out his objection to provincial demands for federal funding of any adverse impacts of Kyoto policies.
Could he tell the House what he finds objectionable about the federal government taking full responsibility for actions it takes without the consent of the provinces?
Kyoto Protocol
Oral Question Period
2:15 p.m.
Victoria
B.C.
Liberal
David Anderson Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Leader of the Opposition has answered his own question. He talks about lack of approval of the provinces. We do not know whether there will or will not be such approval. Therefore, he has already put a condition in which is exactly the type of thing that we would like to clarify before we go in and have an agreement with them on these other points that are in dispute.
Kyoto Protocol
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Calgary Southwest
Alberta
Canadian Alliance
Stephen Harper Leader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure any of us understood that. The Kyoto deal is being driven by this government over the objection of the provinces. Not surprisingly, the provinces are asking for assurances that the costs of the Prime Minister's made in Kyoto adventure will be covered by the federal government.
If the government is so convinced of the benefits of Kyoto, why will it not put its money where its mouth is and agree to the provincial demand that the federal government bear the financial risks of its own commitments?
Kyoto Protocol
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Victoria
B.C.
Liberal
David Anderson Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the first mistake the hon. Leader of the Opposition made in his presentation and his preamble was to describe the plan for implementing and achieving the Canadian decision of minus 6% of 1990 levels as not being a made in Canada plan.
Let me assure him that it is the result of five full years of discussion with the provinces and territories, with industry, with environmental groups and, shortly, it will have the benefit of a few hours and days of debate in the House. Therefore, it is very much a made in Canada plan.
Kyoto Protocol
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Calgary Southwest
Alberta
Canadian Alliance
Stephen Harper Leader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the minister still has not answered my question. He just keeps insisting he could ask better questions himself.
The provinces are simply asking for a guarantee that their economies will not be unduly affected by this plan. If the government really believes its own claim that the costs of Kyoto are small, it would have no hesitation in providing financial guarantees to the provinces.
If the Liberal government does not believe the costs are small, why is it asking Canadians to go on blind faith? Why is it asking Canadians for a blank cheque on Kyoto?
Kyoto Protocol
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Victoria
B.C.
Liberal
David Anderson Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, the level of questioning would improve if the hon. Leader of the Opposition and his friends would let them be phrased on this side of the House.
That aside, the problem that he outlined is exactly in that weasel word he used, unduly. What does unduly mean? A weasel word. If he would explain that to the satisfaction of the provinces, the territories and the federal government, perhaps we would be further ahead as to what we could accept.
Terrorism
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Stockwell Day Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday an international fundraising network was shut down by Great Britain and the United States. The benevolent international fund of Canada is also named as part of this network which reportedly helps al-Qaeda to buy weapons and plan their murders. Today the office of the foreign affairs minister informed my office that it is unaware of any plans to shut down the Canadian arm of this fundraising network.
Other nations take clear steps to protect their citizens and others from this particular network. Why is Canada apparently doing nothing to shut this network down?
Terrorism
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford
Ontario
Liberal
Aileen Carroll Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, Canada has acted just as decisively as other nations. We have listed 366 organizations and are currently sharing that information with our international allies.
The United States just listed this organization yesterday. It has submitted the name to the United Nations. When the United Nations responds, we also will quickly trigger into our legislation exactly what it has done.
I would suggest that the hon. member keep his shirt on.
Terrorism
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
An hon. member
Yes, keep your shirt on, please.
Terrorism
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
Terrorism
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
The Speaker
I am sure he will. The hon. member for Okanagan—Coquihalla has another question though and we will all hear it.
Terrorism
Oral Question Period
2:20 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Stockwell Day Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC
Mr. Speaker, they can joke about it but it is a very serious issue.
Why do other countries have to do the intelligence work for our government? We have court documents. They are already available. They reveal a close relationship between Osama bin Laden and the founder of this Canadian so-called charity that includes pen pal letters to Osama bin Laden and fuzzy photo opportunities with Osama bin Laden.
This is not a laughing matter. Charity begins at home. Why will the Solicitor General not take steps to protect Canadians?
Terrorism
Oral Question Period
2:25 p.m.
Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford
Ontario
Liberal
Aileen Carroll Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, first I was referring to the hon. member's haste rather than to the substance of the matter.
We take the substance of this very seriously. We do not have court documents. We have a newspaper article. According to what we can ascertain, the fact of the matter is the Americans triggered this just yesterday, and the United Nations is immediately acting on it.
When they list, this automatically triggers a Canadian listing. I do not think we can do more than that at this time.