Debates of Nov. 25th, 2002
House of Commons Hansard #31 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was kyoto.
Topics
- Hazardous Products Act
- Privilege
- Points of Order
- Prince Alexandre de Merode
- The Grey Cup
- Saint Mary's Huskies
- Violence against Women
- University of New Brunswick
- Violence Against Women
- Royal Canadian Legion
- The Grey Cup
- Violence against Women
- Bonnie and Bob Dagenais
- The Grey Cup
- Child Poverty
- Violence Against Women
- Mayors Caucus
- North American Free Trade Agreement
- Violence Against Women
- Kyoto Protocol
- Canada-U.S. Relations
- Kyoto Protocol
- Canada-U.S. Relations
- Health
- Citizenship and Immigration
- National Defence
- Gasoline Prices
- Health
- Airline Industry
- Human Resources Development
- Privacy Commissioner
- Fisheries
- Government Contracts
- Age of Consent
- Foreign Affairs
- Softwood Lumber
- Phone Service
- National Security
- Airline Industry
- Canadian Wheat Board
- Presence in Gallery
- Privilege
- Government Response to Petitions
- Criminal Code
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Points of Order
- Kyoto Protocol
- Points of Order
- Kyoto Protocol
- Business of the House
- Kyoto Protocol
Fisheries
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
John M. Cummins Delta—South Richmond, BC
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about another failure, on the other coast. The number of pink salmon spawners in the Broughton Archipelago collapsed this year, declining by almost 100% in some inlets. This morning the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council advised that the decline was unlikely to have been caused by chance alone. In fact sea lice were the problem, sea lice associated with salmon farming.
Will the minister regulate the salmon farming industry or will he just sit around and wait until the Pacific salmon goes the way of the east coast cod?
Fisheries
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
West Nova
Nova Scotia
Liberal
Robert Thibault Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I can advise that I am quite concerned about the variations in stock size of the pink salmon. I met with the Premier of British Columbia this morning. We talked about joint cooperation in ensuring we had an efficient, economically and environmentally sustainable fishery.
I have yet to see the report from Mr. Fraser. I will have the report soon and I will have it reviewed by departmental staff. We will see the recommendations he has made and take appropriate action.
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Lanctôt Châteauguay, QC
Mr. Speaker, after eliminating go-betweens earlier this year, the Minister of Public Works recently said that a decision would be made by the end of the year about maintaining or abandoning the sponsorship program.
Can the Minister of Public Works guarantee that the organizations that benefited from the sponsorship program in the past will not be the first victims of the corruption problems that plague this government?
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, we have always made it very clear that the community organizations, the local people who put together the events on the cultural sporting or recreational fields, are not the problem in this file and we work very hard to ensure that their interests are protected. That has been the case in the past, and I assure the hon. member that we will have their interests very much in mind in the future.
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Lanctôt Châteauguay, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am taking good note of what the minister just said.
Rather than using the mismanagement of the sponsorship program as a pretext to kill it, why does the minister not take this opportunity to turn the sponsorship program into a true support program for sport and cultural organizations?
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. gentleman is confusing two different purposes. The Government of Canada, through the Department of Canadian Heritage and through a variety of other departments, including regional agencies, provides a broad range of programs to support local groups and organizations across the country in their various specific purposes.
The sponsorship program had a broader purpose. In addition to supporting community events, it also sought to improve the presence of the Government of Canada in every corner of the country and thereupon to build upon Canadian cohesion and a sense of belonging for all Canadians.
Age of Consent
Oral Question Period
November 25th, 2002 / 2:50 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Chuck Cadman Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government refuses to raise the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16 years. The Minister of Justice says that he cannot reach an agreement with the provinces but we know that Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia support the change.
Last week the minister refused to say which groups in the community would not support this change. Will he at least tell us which provinces do not support it?
Age of Consent
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Northumberland
Ontario
Liberal
Paul MacKlin Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as the minister has said in the House, we have looked at many options for sexual exploitation issues with respect to children and other vulnerable groups. In that process we have tried to consult with the provinces and come up with ways which would be effective. We believe we have found an effective way and will be introducing it very shortly in the House.
Age of Consent
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Chuck Cadman Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, in Canada 14-year-olds cannot legally drive, they cannot vote, they cannot legally buy cigarettes or alcohol and they cannot attend restricted movies. Yet in Canada 14-year-olds are routinely sexually exploited and it is all legal as long as they consent. Will the minister please explain why this is?
Age of Consent
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Northumberland
Ontario
Liberal
Paul MacKlin Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we are taking a very broad view of this matter. In that process, when we look at the entire area, we start to find out that there are matters that need to be given special attention. We believe it is the predators that need to be given the special attention and we will deal with those predators.
Foreign Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Sarkis Assadourian Brampton Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East, and the Caucasus. Recently the secretary of state visited Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia to meet with government officials and business dealers to broaden Canada's contacts in the rapidly developing Caucasus region.
Will the secretary of state share with us his views on this very important visit and the outcome he achieved?
Foreign Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Elgin—Middlesex—London
Ontario
Liberal
Gar Knutson Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East)
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question and commend him for his interest in this region.
My visit to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia was clearly a success. I was well received and met with all three presidents. This is a critical time for the region as all three countries face challenges ranging from systematic corruption, conflicts and poverty.
Notwithstanding these challenges, there are many positive signs in these countries as they move through transition from being former soviet republics to democratic countries enjoying the benefits of a free market economy.
I believe that Canada and our business community have a large role to play in providing assistance to these countries.
Softwood Lumber
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
John Duncan Vancouver Island North, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadian stakeholders require federal support to continue to pursue the expensive and time consuming legal challenges for softwood lumber trade with the U.S. at NAFTA and WTO. Some stakeholders are losing confidence and calling for a self-imposed border tax to replace tariffs. Some unemployed forest workers and lumber producers require federal backing to remain committed to the lengthy legal process.
Why is the government failing to provide this support?
Softwood Lumber
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Vancouver South—Burnaby
B.C.
Liberal
Herb Dhaliwal Minister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his interest in this area and his good work on the forest problem we have with the U.S.
First, we have taken a number of steps. We have invested in research and development, as well as looked for new markets. The total package is more than $340 million. We have also said that this is the window of opportunity to get an agreement with the Americans. If we do not do it in the next four or five months, we have an opportunity to do more and we will if it is necessary.
Softwood Lumber
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
John Duncan Vancouver Island North, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources is not only unable to retain his constituency executive, he also failed to deliver an effective softwood lumber package. The trade minister spends more time jet-setting around the world than he spends on critical Canada-U.S. trade relations.
Liberal ministers are so busy fighting each other that they are not fighting for the Canadian softwood industry. As a result, Canada is in jeopardy of folding a winning hand at NAFTA and WTO. When will the minister--