Debates of June 10th, 2005

China

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the connections between a legal aid system and better protecting women and the poor, the connection between that kind of capability and exactly the point the member is trying to make is eluding her.

We are helping China build human rights. The manner in which we are doing that is through the very strong programs that we are running.

I will repeat this again. The Government of Canada is giving no money to the government of China. I hope that with this explanation she will be able to comprehend the situation.

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the minister should check her website for the description of the program she is talking about.

In March of this year, CIDA released a document entitled “Statistical Report on Official Development Assistance Fiscal Year 2003-2004”. On page 41 under the heading “Government to Government”, it states that China received over $33 million in total net disbursements from Canada.

Let me repeat that. CIDA says that it gives money directly to the Chinese government. Who is telling the truth and who is incompetent, the minister or her staff at CIDA?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

I am sure the minister appreciates the continual help with her answers but we have to be able to hear the answer. The minister is seated very close to me and in spite of that I often cannot hear her during her answer. I would urge hon. members on the other side who are helping her to ease up and let us hear the answer.

The hon. Minister of International Cooperation has the floor.

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, this question was brought forward from the statistical analysis that has been described by the critic's predecessor. That question was answered by my department.

I will repeat very clearly for the House, for that party and for the people of Canada that the Government of Canada does not give money directly to the government of China through our development programs.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the strike last fall by the Canada Revenue Agency, processing delays for refunds on scientific research and experimental development expenditures continue to increase. Some companies have had to wait for their refunds for up to a year.

What specific measures does the Minister of National Revenue intend to put forward so that files are processed within an acceptable timeframe, in other words, between three and six months, in accordance with its own directive?

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for the Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, as a matter of fact, the minister is working very hard to shorten these delays. I am sure that the findings and results will be made public very shortly.

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, these unnecessary delays are not hurting just businesses, which face serious liquidity problems while awaiting their refunds, but are also preventing action by the Quebec government, which cannot intervene as long as the CRA has not processed the file.

I am asking the Minister of National Revenue what he is waiting for to fix a situation that is rapidly going from bad to worse and that has slowed research and development instead of encouraging it?

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for the Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, obviously, the Minister of National Revenue has no intention of discouraging research and development. There are difficulties to overcome. The minister is working very hard on this, and answers will be forthcoming very soon.

Agriculture

[Bill Casey, Conservative, North Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in the first budget this year the Liberals announced that they were closing a number of experimental farms across the country. One of them was in Nappan in my riding. The other day I noticed an article in the Kapuskasing Northern Times which stated, “Minister agrees to re-examine farm closure” in Kapuskasing.

These farms are almost identical. They both suffer the same problems. The complaints about the process at Nappan and Kapuskasing are very similar. Will the minister apply the same rules to Nappan that he is applying to Kapuskasing? Will he come to Nappan, visit the farm, get a feel for it and then make a final decision?

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, obviously our objective here is not to reduce the amount that we are investing in science, but rather to try to reduce our overhead so we will in fact have additional dollars to put into pure science.

There were some initiatives taken in respect of a number of sites across the country. Through the representations of a large number of individuals, provinces, my own colleagues within caucus, of which the hon. member is an example, and other hon. members, we have agreed to take a look at each one of these closures, to work with the community and the producers in the area and to review the way forward.

[Bill Casey, Conservative, North Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am not talking about a new structuring with new partners. I am talking about a review of the decision like the one that is reported in the Northern Times about the Kapuskasing farm. The minister cannot have two sets of rules, one for Liberal ridings and one for Conservative ridings. These farms are almost identical. They suffer the same problems and the same complaints about the process have been made at both of them.

Again, before he makes a decision, will he come to the farm himself and meet with the federation of agriculture, the industry and the community? They have fought so hard to keep this farm open. I ask the minister to give them the respect they deserve, listen to them and then make a final decision.

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member pointed out that the reductions that were announced were occurring in ridings represented by all parties. I think this clearly demonstrates that there is no bias as we are making in these decisions. I can assure the hon. member that we are dealing with all of these issues at all of these sites in exactly the same way.

I agree that the Nappan site has contributed significantly to science over the years. We will work together in the same way with all of these institutions.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is also for the Minister of Agriculture. The Canadian agricultural income stabilization program, or CAIS program, helps protect producers from drops in income. However, producers have raised with me concerns about money being tied up in the CAIS account.

Will the minister please tell the House what actions he intends to take, together with the provinces, to respond to the concerns of my constituents?

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, as colleagues in the House will remember, in the budget we announced that we would be seeking a replacement for the deposit. We have been working with the provinces and the industry to move forward in this respect.

We look forward to a federal-provincial meeting in July and to having further discussions, but I am able to announce today that we have achieved an agreement with the provinces and that all CAIS money presently on deposit will be available for withdrawal. This will provide over $600 million available to producers.

Automobile Industry

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the Minister of Industry to respond to the potential loss of thousands of auto jobs in Ontario. The minister, in typical Liberal fashion, skirted the issue and failed to answer. Does the minister stand by the statement he made last November? He said:

The 80,000 workers in the automotive industry will still be there in 10 years. The number will actually grow.

I will ask the minister again. Does he stand by his guarantee that auto job numbers in Ontario will grow?

[Jerry Pickard, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that we really should look at what is happening in Ontario. What the U.S. really requires in its auto business is more corporations like General Motors has in Oshawa. We are doing very well in Ontario. We are the chief automotive group. We surpassed Michigan and Ohio in the last year. Quite frankly, the auto industry is thriving well because of Canadian government programs and Ontario Liberal government programs.

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Again, Mr. Speaker, another non-answer.

It is quite simple. Last fall the minister promised that jobs would grow. This spring he signed a deal allowing the loss of up to 28,000 jobs. Which is it? What he promised last fall or what he signed away this spring?

[Jerry Pickard, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we see the job growth in Ontario and the job growth right across this country escalating upward. There is absolutely no question that the auto industry is one of the more thriving industries. We have done everything we can within the sector to make certain it is geared for the next 20 years to do well and expand in Ontario.

Arts and Culture

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, now that the government experts have reached agreement on satisfactory wording for the international convention on the protection of the diversity of cultural content and artistic expression, the next challenge will be to ensure that the greatest possible number of countries adopt it at the next general conference of UNESCO in October 2005.

Can the heritage minister tell us Canada's plans for participation in the international mobilization, an initiative of France, Spain and Brazil,which begins this weekend?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I must express Canada's extreme pleasure with what we consider a great victory for this country. We have worked with the Government of Quebec, and our success in connection with this weekend's Madrid conference constitutes a giant step forward as far as cultural diversity is concerned.

Hon. members can, of course, count on Canadian diplomacy throughout the world to play a part in this progress, which is a direct reflection of the priorities we have been promoting in collaboration with the Government of Quebec. Our embassies will ensure that a large number of countries follow us along this great path. Already, there are 45 ministers of culture in Madrid and—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Don Valley East.

International Cooperation

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, AIDS continues to claim millions of victims throughout the world. Canada is investing significantly in the fight against it.

Can the Minister of International Cooperation give this House an update on the progress of the “treat three million by 2005” initiative?

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, over a year ago, Canada invested $100 million in the World Health Organization's “three by five” initiative. With this investment, Canada has become the biggest donor to this initiative, which was on the brink of folding for lack of support.

I am therefore pleased to inform the House that the “three by five” initiative is now an enormous success. Close to 1 million people are undergoing treatment, which is five times more than barely a few years ago. It goes without saying that this initiative is a great success of which Canada can be extremely proud.

[The Speaker]

That will conclude question period for today.

The Chair has notice of a point of order from the hon. member for Simcoe--Grey.