Lawrence O'Brien

[Modernization Of Benefits And Obligations Act, April 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, water is not only a necessity of life, it is essential in many ways to the quality of our lives.

Canadians are deeply concerned about the long term security and quality of our freshwater. One issue that has recently captured the attention of Canadians is the prospect of bulk water removals and export from Canadian watersheds.

The federal government responded to these concerns in February 1999 with a three part strategy to prohibit bulk water removal from major watersheds. The strategy recognizes that the most effective and certain way to protect Canada's waters is to take an environmental approach. Our goal is to shut off the tap at the source, not at the border.

I will take a moment to report on the progress which has been made by all governments and the International Joint Commission in advancing this strategy.

Last November the Minister of Foreign Affairs tabled Bill C-15, an act to amend the International Boundary Waters Treaty Act to prohibit bulk water removals from boundary waters, principally the Great Lakes. This is a key federal contribution to the protection of Canada's waters under the Canada-wide accord.

A second element of the strategy was a giant Canada-U.S. study by the IJC to examine water use in the Great Lakes basin. On March 15 the IJC presented its final report to the Canadian and U.S. governments on the protection of the waters of the Great Lakes.

The report is consistent and reinforces the federal strategy to prohibit bulk water removals, including recognition of the environmental basis for action, the need for intergovernmental co-operation in protecting waters, and the trade consistency of the federal approach.

The IJC concluded that international trade law does not prevent Canada and the U.S. from taking measures to protect their water resources and preserve the integrity of the Great Lakes basin.

[Airline Industry, April 3rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.

I understand that Air Canada has launched its new schedule. Can the minister tell the House if these new services will deal with the overcrowding experienced on recent flights since the airline restructuring began?

[Atlantic Canadians, March 22nd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, Atlantic delegates came to the Liberal biennial convention this past weekend to put the ideas of Atlantic Canadians on the national stage. The delegates worked together to voice their priorities for the future of our great region with keen determination.

Their success was shown by many key priorities of Atlantic Canadians being adopted, concerning such matters as the Port of Halifax, P.E.I. potato inspection fees and employment insurance.

Additionally, the convention unanimously endorsed a resolution calling for the adoption of the economic strategies outlined in “Catching Tomorrow's Wave”.

I would like to thank Geoff Regan, John O'Brien, Jack Graham, Sandra Kromm, Lisa Lacenaire, Melissa MacInnis and Scott Andrews, who offered their candidacy for numerous voluntary positions within the Liberal Party of Canada.

Finally, congratulations are also in order for the Dalhousie Young Liberals who—

[Division No. 659, December 13th, 1999]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak about the approach the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has taken to address the Marshall decision.

Much has been made by the opposition about the fact that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has not been on the east coast personally dealing with first nations on commercial access.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans appointed Mr. MacKenzie and Mr. Thériault as chief federal representative and assistant federal representative respectively, not because he wanted to send a B team to the Atlantic, as the opposition has suggested, but because these gentlemen bring to the task outstanding qualifications that are so important to the negotiation process.

Mr. MacKenzie has a background in negotiations with aboriginal groups, having been involved in land claims negotiations in my riding of Labrador as the chief federal negotiator for the Labrador Inuit land claims process. He also has extensive experience in holding consultations with diverse groups throughout Atlantic Canada and so is familiar with the issues these stakeholders are faced with.

Mr. Thériault has been involved with the Atlantic commercial fishery in a variety of capacities for the past 25 years. He has been a spokesperson, an adviser and a consultant in a variety of fora related to fisheries issues.

It is for these reasons that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans determined that they could provide a very important function in negotiating arrangements for the next fishing season that will accommodate the Marshall decision while taking into account the concerns and issues of the existing commercial fishing sector.

Mr. MacKenzie and Mr. Thériault are now engaged in the process of discussing with aboriginal leaders—

[Committees Of The House, October 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the government's response to the 30th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on chapter 4 of the April 1999 report of the Auditor General of Canada entitled “Fisheries and Oceans: Managing Atlantic Shellfish in a Sustainable Manner”, presented in the House on June 2, 1999.

[Fisheries, October 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is fully in control of the issue.

We believe in co-operation. We believe in dialogue. We believe in a balanced approach. We believe in treaties. We believe in the laws of the country that prevail. At the end of it all this will come together and we will have a policy that is conducive to all Canadians.

[Fisheries, October 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear who is managing the fisheries of Canada. It is the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and it will continue to be.

[Fisheries, October 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the rights of Canadians will be respected. Treaty rights will be respected. Conservation is the first order of business. We have a regulated fishery and we will enforce the law.

[Fisheries, October 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as I pointed out to the hon. member, the law will be respected.

The treaty rights as they relate to the Marshall decision—

[Fisheries, October 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we support the Marshall decision.

Yesterday the chief of the band in Conne River, Chief Misel Joe, pointed out that he was very concerned about what happened in Newfoundland and that he supported the position which we took and the position taken by the province.

I want to say to the member that this issue will unfold. The chief federal representative, Mr. Mackenzie, will deal with all issues. In the course of time members will see the resolution. In the meantime, we will enforce the law.