Debates of May 14th, 2004
House of Commons Hansard #55 of the 37th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was health.
Topics
- Message from the Senate
- Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
- Business of the House
- The Environment
- Racism
- Foire gourmande de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du nord-est ontarien
- Member for Thornhill
- Étudiant Outaouais
- Foreign Affairs
- Research and Development
- Health
- Member for Madawaska—Restigouche
- Prime Minister
- Member for Outremont
- Hamilton East
- Liberal Party of Canada
- Hamilton East
- Member for Fraser Valley
- Ford Motor Company
- Member for Cypress Hills--Grasslands
- Order of Canada
- Health
- Public Service
- Liberal Party of Canada
- Fisheries
- Gasoline Prices
- Shipbuilding
- Citizenship and Immigration
- Sponsorship Program
- Electoral Boundaries
- Equalization Payments
- Government Assistance
- Public Service
- Employment Insurance
- Afghanistan
- International Aid
- Infrastructure
- Government Appointments
- Taxation
- The Environment
- Equalization Payments
- Health
- Member for Hamilton East
- Canadian Forces Housing Agency
- Government Response to Petitions
- Report of Team Canada Inc.
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
- Quarantine Act
- Employment Insurance
Afghanistan
Oral Question Period
11:50 a.m.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is not all. The situation is also being denounced by Human Rights Watch, which is calling for an investigation into the abuse committed against prisoners and the massacre of Afghan civilians by coalition forces, and particularly Canada's JTF2 Special Operations Forces unit.
How can the minister keep on making reassuring statements when organizations such as the Red Cross and Human Rights Watch are denouncing the plight of the prisoners and of the civilian population of Afghanistan?
Afghanistan
Oral Question Period
11:50 a.m.
Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford
Ontario
Liberal
Aileen Carroll Minister for International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, we take very seriously the comments that are conveyed internationally by both the Red Cross and by Human Rights Watch. At the same time, we are working very closely with our American allies in Afghanistan.
We are cognizant of the situation there. We have a meeting going on in Washington now among the G-8 foreign affairs ministers who are discussing abuses that occurred in Iraq and are conveying their concerns of the appalling nature. At the same time, we commend the most senior levels of the American administration for taking exactly the course of action they should in ensuring that justice will be brought to those who are responsible.
International Aid
Oral Question Period
11:50 a.m.
Canadian Alliance
Deepak Obhrai Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, the government's Taiwan and Tibet policy is driven by China. The Sri Lankan policy is driven by the interest to please the terrorist Tamil tiger group. Their HIV-AIDS initiative is driven by Bono. Obviously, the Liberal government's agenda is driven by outsiders.
Where is the made in Canada policy the Prime Minister talks about?
International Aid
Oral Question Period
11:50 a.m.
Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford
Ontario
Liberal
Aileen Carroll Minister for International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for that question. Last week when he asked me one, I was confused. Today, I am perfectly clear.
Let me assure the House and the member that our response with $100 million to the 3 by 5 initiative at the World Health Organization was made in Canada and our response to double our commitment to the global fund for next year is made in Canada by the Prime Minister and the government. We have sent ripples throughout the world from my phone calls today to Britain and Geneva. They are getting the message we are leading.
International Aid
Oral Question Period
11:50 a.m.
Canadian Alliance
Deepak Obhrai Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, it was funny that the announcement was made just before the election. On the eve of the election, we now see a Liberal spending orgy. However, these are old recycled policies. Even the Bono 2 road show is a recycled policy. Spend, spend and spend.
Where is the prudent financial management to which the Prime Minister claims to adhere?
International Aid
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford
Ontario
Liberal
Aileen Carroll Minister for International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, let me assure the hon. member that this is no a re-announcement and this is no recycling whatsoever.
In the budget CIDA was given an 8% increase in its overall budget and a commitment was made by the government, dedicated to international development, to continue that increase. There was no re-announcement. This is a clear leadership initiative on the part of the Canadian government with all new money.
Infrastructure
Oral Question Period
May 14th, 2004 / 11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Elinor Caplan Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of State for Infrastructure. While I would like to commend the minister for working in partnership with the province of Ontario and the city of Toronto to provide $1 billion for the Toronto Transit Commission, my question is regarding the government's commitment to public transit throughout the greater Toronto area, Ontario and Canada.
Could the hon. minister please tell my constituents in York region, who are anxiously awaiting the construction of phase one of the York region transit plan, to others who are awaiting the GO Transit expansion and to those communities across Canada that support public transit--
Infrastructure
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of State for Infrastructure.
Infrastructure
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
Fredericton
New Brunswick
Liberal
Andy Scott Minister of State (Infrastructure)
Mr. Speaker, first, let me take this opportunity to thank the member for Thornhill for her service to country, both here and in Queen's Park.
Our government is proud of our commitment to funding infrastructure projects that support sustainable communities. That is why we are pleased to support transit projects. Last week, with our partners, we signed agreements for transit improvements worth over $1 billion for Go Transit, as well as another $150 million for rapid transit in the York region, and that work can begin right now.
Government Appointments
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
Canadian Alliance
Brian Pallister Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, listen to the words of the Prime Minister in March:
No longer will the key to Ottawa be who do you know. We are going to condemn to history the practice and the politics of cronyism.
Good words, but let us look at the deeds. The Prime Minister appoints the member for Brampton Centre, special advisor on the Middle East, the member for Vancouver--Kingsway, special advisor on trade and the member for Charleswood St. James--Assiniboia, lieutenant governor of Manitoba.
Perhaps he had his fingers crossed behind his back when he made this promise. Could I ask the government--
Government Appointments
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
The Speaker
We will have to continue with an answer. The hon. Minister of Finance.
Government Appointments
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
Wascana
Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, it was not entirely clear what the question was going to be, so let me go back to the earlier point by the member who asked the former question about recycled things, things that were borrowed from outside of Canada, and so forth.
I would note that the proposal from his leader on the front page of the Globe and Mail this morning was drawn directly from the website of the United States of America.
Government Appointments
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
Canadian Alliance
Brian Pallister Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, forget Burger King, the Prime Minister's office is the new home of the whopper in Canada. Listen to the Prime Minister's words,“The best proof of what I am going to do in the future is what I have done in the past”. I hope Canadians look at that record.
What has he done? He shut down the sponsorship inquiry, invoked closure after six days, brainless photo ops, attack ads, parachuted candidates, patronage appointments, pork barrel politics, no issues, lots of fluff and lots of hype.
Maybe Burger King is not worried. Where is the beef with the government?
Government Appointments
Oral Question Period
11:55 a.m.
Winnipeg South
Manitoba
Liberal
Reg Alcock President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, there is an old saying in politics that “when you cannot attack the policy, you attack the person”. The response to that was delivered in La Presse two days ago by André Pratte who said that the chaotic public accounts committee inquiry had not shown any credible indications that the political level was implicated. He went on to say that reputation tarnishing was a political tactic, but it was an immoral one.
Taxation
Oral Question Period
Noon
Bloc
Gilles-A. Perron Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, we have learned that the Quebec government is not in a position to make its contribution to the infrastructure program, because it does not have enough money. This is more tangible proof of the tax imbalance.
What is the Prime Minister waiting for to admit that he has too much money, while Quebec and the provinces have glaring needs? What is he waiting for to finally acknowledge and settle the issue of tax imbalance?