Debates of May 14th, 1999

Herb Gray Deputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is using the wrong terminology. There is no head tax. There is a right of landing fee which is applied to help people applying for permanent residence to deal with the costs of the applications.

The question is totally premature because we are dealing with refugees entering under minister's permits. There is no fee or tax of any kind applied to those permits. If these people later on want to apply to stay permanently there is a fee in place, there is a loan program applicable to that fee.

This is a matter we can look into when the time comes. Right now it is purely speculative and hypothetical.

Alexa McDonough Halifax, NS

Mr. Speaker, the time already came for the refugees who paid it last year, the year before and the year before. Last year alone the finance minister extracted $11 million from refugee families with his head tax.

The finance minister also gave $11 million extra dollars to the Senate. In fact, he could eliminate the head tax altogether if he would just say no to the Senate.

Which one really needs a break: refugee families who have lost everything, or the finance minister's friends in the Senate?

Herb Gray Deputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member as usual has her facts wrong. Refugees do not pay the right of landing fee. They enter under minister's permits for which no fees or taxes are payable. If later on they apply for permanent residence other considerations apply.

When it comes to the Kosovar refugees, many of them at this stage say they want to go back to their home countries. If they later decide they want to stay permanently, other considerations arise and they can be examined at that time.

Peter MacKay Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS

Mr. Speaker, now that the RCMP has abandoned the criminal investigation into Bre-X Minerals Ltd., perhaps it will reconsider the wisdom of its politically motivated airbus fiasco.

Bre-X is the biggest alleged market fraud in Canadian history, yet the RCMP gives up because Bre-X board members refuse to talk and it is costing millions.

With the encouragement of the Liberal government, the RCMP continues to waste taxpayers' dollars on the airbus investigation that today has found no evidence, not a shred.

When will the solicitor general take responsibility for the RCMP, put an end to this continuous embarrassment and focus on solving real crime, not settling Liberal vendettas?

Peter MacKay Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS

Mr. Speaker, the last time I checked the RCMP was under the ministry of the solicitor general. Canadians are tired of excuses and want action. It is a fact that the RCMP is suffering from a severe lack of funding due to Liberal budget cuts, yet as Bre-X gets swept under the rug the partisan obsession against Brian Mulroney continues to cost millions.

The National Post described it perfectly. It said that the government was intent on finding something to do with someone about a crime yet to be established in order to prove that it was not entirely wrong headed in its pursuit of Airbus rumours in the first place.

Letting this case fester and bumble on is not an option. The solicitor general should tell Canadians when he will put an end to this futile investigation.

Gary Lunn Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, the minister of defence confirmed yesterday that the government was planning to expropriate British Columbia property in Nanoose Bay. This has never been done before in the history of Canada.

The government is resorting to threats rather than negotiation. It would not dare consider it in any other province. It would not even mention the word expropriate. This is an absolute insult to every British Columbian.

I ask the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs why the the double standard for British Columbia.

Herb Gray Deputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, there is no double standard for British Columbia. We are dealing with a Canadian military base which has existed since 1965.

The last time I looked, National Defence was a totally federal responsibility under our Constitution in British Columbia and in every other part of Canada. The base is needed for the purposes of the Canadian navy and its allies. More will be said about this matter later today when an announcement is made by other ministers.

John Reynolds West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, the student clamp down at the 1997 APEC summit pleased now deposed Indonesian dictator Suharto so much that his ambassador wrote to the Prime Minister thanking him for his personal efforts in ensuring his safety. I guess a little pepper-spray goes a long way in diplomatic circles.

For a PMO that has until now denied any involvement in the security forces at APEC, was getting a pat on the back from a deposed and disgraced dictator worth trampling on the rights of Canadians?

Herb Gray Deputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, I totally reject the premise of the hon. member's question.

Representatives of the Prime Minister's Office have said that they will make themselves available to testify in this matter before the inquiry being carried out by a distinguished former supreme court judge.

The hearings are under way. Let us see what the hearings have to say and what the judge has to say. Then we will be in a position to deal with the matter in the House of Commons if such should be necessary.

Allan Rock Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, officials are currently working on preparing proposals for clinical trials. We will get started in a few weeks. I am awaiting the report and the results of their work.

Bernard Bigras Rosemont, QC

Mr. Speaker, several weeks after the minister's announcement regarding the master plan, we in the House are entitled to answers, if there is to be transparency.

My question is clear. Yes or no, have officials contacted Monsanto representatives and will the firm be included in the minister's plans?