Debates of March 22nd, 2002

Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the issue the hon. member has raised is one which I know is of concern to all of us. The specific issue is one that will need to be addressed by the Minister of Finance and the finance department.

With regard to the issue of co-operatives, we have shown very clearly in the last few years that we in the agriculture and agri-food department and industry support the co-operative movement in Canada. We know it has strengths. We also know that 40% of Canadians belong to a co-operative of some sort. We know the value it means to them and to the communities in which they live.

Marcel Gagnon Champlain, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is time for the government to show its support. The financial tools that would ensure the development of agricultural co-operatives exist. It is not as if they did not exist.

What is the minister waiting for to act?

Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I have told the co-operative movement in Quebec, and particularly on the specific issue the hon. member has raised, I too have raised it with the Minister of Finance and the finance department. We will continue in those discussions on behalf of and with the co-operatives.

Brian Pallister Portage—Lisgar, MB

Mr. Speaker, the government has repeatedly acquiesced to the anti-Israeli resolutions of the fourth Geneva Convention and the United Nations. The Liberals' cowardly approach to such unbalanced resolutions has seriously flawed our reputation as a strong and honest broker.

Similar one-sided motions will be discussed next week at the United Nations commission on human rights. Will the government call for a ballot on those resolutions so that all participants, including Canada, can finally complain and make their positions known?

Bill Graham Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I wish the hon. member had been with me when I was in Geneva last week. He would have met with the deputy foreign minister of Israel and the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations human rights commission. They thanked Canada for the tremendous support that we have given to Israel over the years for ensuring balances in resolutions.

I can assure the hon. member and the House that we will examine all resolutions coming before us to make sure they are balanced and contribute to peace and progress in the problems in the Middle East.

Brian Pallister Portage—Lisgar, MB

Mr. Speaker, that is typical, all aid short of actual help.

If the government does not take a stand, it will be complicit again in passing maliciously one-sided resolutions. This would hand a powerful propaganda tool to supporters of anti-Israeli violence.

The Liberal member for Mount Royal has called on the government to demand a vote on the anti-Israel resolutions and to push for reforms to the commission on human rights. The Canadian Alliance has strongly opposed the government's silence in the face of this unbalanced resolution.

Opposing the anti-Israeli resolutions is important. Will the government do that at next week's meeting in Geneva?

Bill Graham Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the government always seeks to assure that resolutions are balanced when they come before the human rights commission. We are certainly willing to accept voting rather than consensus on resolutions if this requires compromises which undermine the intent of our resolutions or which run counter to Canadian government policy. As I said to the press, we will be watching very carefully to make sure there is a balance in what is happening in Geneva next week.

Marcel Proulx Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the Minister of Public Works and Government Services told the House that he would give the MIL Davie trustee until March 22 to meet the conditions relating to the contract to do the maintenance work on one of the Halifax class frigates, the HMCS Ville-de-Québec .

Could the minister tell us if any progress has been made on this issue?

Don Boudria Minister of Public Works and Government Services

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that, indeed, the MIL Davie trustee has met all the requirements and will be awarded the contract to upgrade the frigate HMCS Ville-de-Québec .

I thank the Minister of Justice, the Secretary of State responsible for the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec, the hon. member for Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière and all the other hon. members who helped with this issue.