Debates of May 2nd, 2002
House of Commons Hansard #181 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was security.
Topics
- Committees of the House
- International Trade
- Technology Partnerships Canada
- Committees of the House
- Patent Act
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Public Safety Act, 2002
- Committees of the House
- Public Safety Act, 2002
- Soccer
- Press Freedom Day
- Agriculture
- Economic Development
- Polish Constitution Day
- South Asian Heritage Month
- Bill C-286
- Press Freedom Day
- Francophone Culture
- Children
- Sports
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Highway Infrastructure
- Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
- Agriculture
- Battle of the Atlantic
- Agriculture
- Softwood Lumber
- Public Safety Act
- Softwood Lumber
- Public Safety Act
- Immigration
- Public Safety Act
- National Defence
- South Africa
- Urban Affairs
- Agriculture
- Health
- Leadership Campaigns
- Immigration
- Leadership Campaigns
- Housing
- Agriculture
- Taiwan
- Public Service
- Gun Registry
- Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Taxation
- Softwood Lumber
- Presence in Gallery
- Privilege
- Business of the House
- Firefighters' Pensions
South Africa
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Brome—Missisquoi
Québec
Liberal
Denis Paradis Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) (Francophonie)
Mr. Speaker, when we travelled to South Africa, we knew that the HIV-AIDS issue was a major concern for all Africans.
In fact, this issue was the subject of a number of debates and, at the Prime Minister's initiative, we toured, among other things, awareness projects.
The good news is that a few days after our return to Canada, we learned that the government of President Mbeki had substantially changed its position by adopting a much more proactive approach in the fight against HIV-AIDS.
Canada is proud to have been able to contribute to this debate, and it is pleased by this change of attitude on the part of the South African government, since it will benefit millions of men, women—
South Africa
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
The Deputy Speaker
The hon. member for Winnipeg—Transcona.
Urban Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
NDP
Bill Blaikie Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, Canada's cities are deteriorating before our very eyes, yet the Liberal government still has no national urban strategy. Some Liberal backbenchers appear to have caught on, but the front bench still has not caught on. In fact the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance are divided, with the Prime Minister saying it is just a provincial responsibility.
I want to ask the government, when are we going to have a national urban strategy from the government, significant investment in mass transit, in environmental clean up, in housing--
Urban Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
The Deputy Speaker
The hon. Minister of Transport.
Urban Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Don Valley East
Ontario
Liberal
David Collenette Minister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member for Winnipeg--Transcona has given us the opportunity to congratulate the member for York West and her colleagues for an outstanding report.
Urban Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear.
Urban Affairs
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Liberal
David Collenette Don Valley East, ON
This is a seminal report that will give direction to the government in the years ahead. The government will act upon that report. We have not just waited for that report. We have invested in a national housing policy. We have invested in infrastructure. Some municipalities, such as Toronto and Edmonton, will be taking advantage of that program.
Agriculture
Oral Question Period
May 2nd, 2002 / 2:40 p.m.
NDP
Dick Proctor Palliser, SK
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Saskatchewan legislature unanimously passed a motion calling upon the federal ministers of finance, agriculture, international trade and the government House leader to appear before the Saskatchewan legislature to discuss the huge impact of the U.S. farm bill. Some ministers and their flacks are already giving excuses as to why they cannot attend.
My question is very simple. The House is in recess the week of May 13. Will the government ensure that the ministers appear before the Saskatchewan legislature prior to May 17?
Agriculture
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, none of the ministers mentioned have as yet received any formal invitation from the Saskatchewan legislature.
Let me assure the member that every minister and every member on this side understands the seriousness, the importance and the potentially devastating impact of that insidious legislation in the United States known as the U.S. farm bill. We take it extremely seriously. We are more than willing to meet with every Canadian to discuss how we can work together to fight that conduct in the United States and defend Canadian trade interests, including grain.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
John Herron Fundy Royal, NB
Mr. Speaker, last May 8 the vast majority of the House supported the Progressive Conservative motion calling upon the government to immediately ensure national drinking water standards are enshrined in the safe water act. We clearly said that if we did not see action by the fall we could only call it a breach of parliament, if not a breach of the Canadian will. It is now one year later.
Could the Minister of Health name one concrete action taken on drinking water standards and when will she table a bill for national enforceable drinking water standards to protect the health of all Canadians?
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Edmonton West
Alberta
Liberal
Anne McLellan Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, the most concrete thing we are doing is working with our provincial and territorial colleagues on the development of new national guidelines which the provinces and territories can then enforce.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:40 p.m.
Progressive Conservative
John Herron Fundy Royal, NB
Mr. Speaker, the minister understands clearly that the protection of health and safety of Canadians is in the constitutional purview of the federal government. Her predecessor, the former minister of health, clearly supported the motion. Her colleague, Liberal senator Jerry Grafstein, has said that it is in the constitutional purview of the federal government to develop national drinking water standards.
If the minister was against the motion of May 8 last year, why did she vote for it?
Health
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Edmonton West
Alberta
Liberal
Anne McLellan Minister of Health
Mr. Speaker, we are not opposed to the motion. As I have already indicated, we are discharging our constitutional responsibility and, I think more important, our practical responsibility in terms of working with the provinces and the territories. We are developing new national guidelines and those guidelines will then be enforced, and enforced strictly in many cases, by the provinces and territories.
Leadership Campaigns
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
James Rajotte Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, the industry minister needs to come clean on the mixing of partisan activity with his departmental work. He needs to account for his mysterious personal staffer, Mr. Satpreet Thiara. The member of the minister's staff appears to have no other function than simply wandering the country on behalf of the minister's secret leadership campaign.
Could the Minister of Industry tell Canadians today what specific work Mr. Thiara does for the Department of Industry?
Leadership Campaigns
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Etobicoke Centre
Ontario
Liberal
Allan Rock Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, a request for information was made and responded to. All relevant information has been produced.