Debates of Oct. 4th, 1994

Celiac Awareness Week

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of the House a disease that is not at all exciting or high profile but which is tragic all the same. The week of October 2 to 8 has been designated as Celiac Awareness Week by the Canadian Celiac Association.

Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by gluten, a common substance found in all bread, wheat, rye and oat products. The result is an inability to absorb nutrients, proteins, vitamins and minerals vital to growth and normal health.

Celiac disease affects 20,000 Canadians. It is a lifelong condition whose treatment involves a gluten free diet. That means these people cannot eat pastas, breads, or any other baked goods containing any source of gluten whatsoever.

The Canadian Celiac Association promotes awareness of celiac disease. It offers services to alleviate problems faced by persons with celiac disease in obtaining expedient diagnosis and accurate information and support.

I wish to take this opportunity to salute the Canadian Celiac Association for its efforts on behalf of a disease which is not a high profile one.

Bloc Quebecois Fundraising

[Michel Daviault, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a headline in La Presse today suggests that the Bloc Quebecois is refusing to release its financial statements and the names of its contributors.

The Bloc Quebecois wants to clear up these inaccurate allegations. We are now barely halfway through its first fiscal year as a recognized political party; next spring, the Bloc will submit its first financial report containing the list of donors for the period from the 1993 election to the end of 1994.

The list of donors who have given over $100 to the Bloc Quebecois is now available on request from the party's Montreal office. The Bloc accepts donations only from individuals and limits their contributions to $5,000 a year. It respects the spirit of the Quebec law, which was the basis of a motion that the Liberals refused to pass last week.

Government News Releases

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this month a news release from the Western Economic Diversification Fund crossed my desk announcing a grant of $39 million. The final line of the release said: "This announcement is an example of how this government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars".

I inquired about that statement. I discovered that the Privy Council Office has ordered this sentence to be placed at the end of every government news release having to do with funding. Since when is this kind of partisan statement news? This is nothing more than political advertising. Decrees of this type insult the civil service, forcing it to ignore impartiality.

For the sake of the morale in the public service, I ask the government to rescind this order immediately, leave the political rhetoric where it belongs: in the dusty unread portions of its own little red book and not foisted upon our independent civil service.

Spending of this kind has brought our national debt now to $532,956,930,422.47.

Merger Of Radio Mutuel And Télémédia

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after 40 years, five months and one week on the air, CJMS 1280, long known as Montreal's news leader, ceased operations. Along with it, six other stations of the Radio Mutuel network in Quebec City, Hull, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi and Sherbrooke went out of existence.

This loss deals a heavy blow to the regions, which thus lose some power and where it is increasingly important to strengthen and diversify the news available to the public instead of reducing it. This merger of Radio Mutuel and Télémédia seems to concentrate the news media too much, and the very security of democracy in the regions is at stake.

I therefore ask the CRTC to pay close attention to this issue before agreeing to this merger.

Child Poverty

[Karen Kraft Sloan, Liberal, York—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a new report by the Canadian Institute of Child Health details the unacceptable levels of child poverty in this country.

Poor children are more likely to die at birth and more likely to suffer from low birth weight, chronic health problems and psychiatric disorders.

I urge the Minister of Human Resources Development and the government to put Canadian children first when undertaking the upcoming social security reforms. Canadian children have been neglected. It is time to show real leadership and humanity. It is time to improve the lives of Canadian children and their families.

Environment

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Lincoln, ON]

Mr. Speaker, currently the environment committee is reviewing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. One aspect of the review which has great potential is the consideration of the introduction of economic instruments.

Economic instruments can provide the incentive required for industry to adopt the philosophy of pollution prevention. They do offer the potential of changing behaviour and preserving the

environment for future generations. By providing the incentive to improve technology we not only prevent pollution in Canada but develop technologies that may be exported throughout the world.

Pollution knows no boundaries or jurisdictions. I call upon all levels of government to work together to address our environmental concerns and implement pollution prevention legislation.

Intergovernmental Affairs

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs compared the repayment of Quebec for the referendum costs to a fixed wrestling match. Defending Quebec taxpayers' interests is not a game. If there is a wrestling match, as claimed by the minister, it is because he himself tried to act like a bully.

It is not the first time that the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs makes a blunder. After the disgraceful episode related to the telephone conversation between Mr. Chrétien and Mr. Parizeau, and the referendum episode, during which he arrogantly claimed that the federal owed nothing to Quebec, he now persists in demanding that Mr. Parizeau, and no one else, be Quebec's representative on the so-called Team Canada going to Asia.

``Octobre''

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the film "Octobre" is an example of extreme tolerance to protect the free expression of opinions in Canada. Tolerance in this country is being stretched to the limit with daily threats of separation.

"Octobre" is a separatist film, funded once again on the backs of Canadian taxpayers. The federal government spent $1.4 million to propagate a lie. The National Film Board gave $400,000 and Telefilm Canada gave a million dollars to fund this flimsy stab at accuracy.

The facts are simple: Pierre Laporte was murdered by separatist terrorists and now federal tax dollars are being used to glorify and distort this senseless murder by a separatist gang of murderers and thieves.

To reduce the cold-blooded murder of Pierre Laporte to something as intellectually fraudulent as "Octobre" is appalling and to provide Canadian tax dollars to accomplish it is scandalous. The pathos and emotions of his murderers are irrelevant.

Federalism

[Gilles Bernier, Independent, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the world is in constant evolution. Changes occur everywhere and people easily adapt.

However, we do not see that evolution with the government. Why insist on maintaining an uncompromising, static, hermetic and rigid, if not obsolete, federalism? The time has come to be more open and flexible. What is the government waiting for to end the status quo in its relations with the provinces? For goodness sake, try to be more modern in your federalist approach! The government should take heed of the legitimate claims made by provinces, including Quebec, because they reflect modernism and common sense.

The word "evolution" is not part of the vocabulary of mandarins and some elected representatives display a lack of thoughtfulness. Everywhere in this country there is a consensus in favour of decentralization. The time has come for the government to give back to Quebec and other provinces the powers which are theirs under the Constitution.

Liberal Backbenchers

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week at a press conference in Toronto the leader of the Reform Party said that Liberal backbencher MPs from Ontario are not going to bat for their province because they do not want to do anything that could put them at odds with party policy.

The hon. member for Calgary Southwest and indeed all members of the Reform Party should realize that Ontario Liberal MPs are simply following the will of over 69 per cent of Ontarians who support the government in its policies.

The next time the leader of the Reform Party says that people in Ontario do not think the Liberals are working for them, he should take into consideration the opinion of over 69 per cent of Ontario residents who disagree with him.

Is the leader of the Reform Party really suggesting that Ontario Liberal MPs should solely represent the 7 per cent of Ontarians who support Reform Party ideology?

Word On The Street

[Tony Ianno, Liberal, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the organizers, participants and sponsors of the fifth annual Word on the Street book and magazine fair which was held on Sunday, September

24 in my riding. It is a celebration of our culture and excellence in Canadian writing. More important, it draws to our attention the importance of literacy.

This year a crowd of over 100,000 filled Queen Street West to browse the many exhibits by merchants, publishing houses and the numerous groups promoting literacy and learning.

As we all know, if Canada is to grow and prosper all Canadians must have the tools to reach their potential. The ability to read and write is fundamental to allow us as a nation to succeed and compete internationally.

Next year, thanks to funding from the federal government and our commitment to the national literacy program, Word on the Street will expand nationally to Vancouver and Halifax where parallel festivals will make this a truly national event.

Tracadie

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the new MLA-elect to the New Brunswick riding of Tracadie on his truly decisive victory during the by-election on September 27.

The provincial riding of Tracadie resides in the federal riding of Acadie-Bathurst. This seat has traditionally been a Liberal stronghold for 82 years. The provincial Liberals have called the seat their rock of Gibraltar.

The margin of victory, 1,364 votes, is clearly an incredible win for the Conservative Party. The people defeated the provincial Liberals because they have not improved the economy, their policies are hurting our job creation and they are just not listening. The people have spoken and have said enough is enough.

The Conservative Party is alive and well in New Brunswick and the rock of Gibraltar has fallen.

The Economy

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the government's review of social policy should be accompanied by a review of the policies which really caused the deficit. Social spending in Canada is not out of line with what is spent in other developed countries. It is how we finance that spending that needs a hard look.

On the revenue side, successive Canadian governments have given up billions of dollars in the form of tax breaks of one kind or another, starting with John Turner's budgets in the mid-1970s. On the monetary policy side, a policy of high interest rates combined with a diminishing of the role of the Bank of Canada in the financing of Canada's debt has led to a deplorable dependence on foreign lenders and bond holders.

Of course on the economic side, the so-called free trade and free market fetish has destroyed hundreds of thousands of jobs and stressed the social system designed for less stupid economic policies.

The government would do well to look at these things rather than blaming social programs and/or their recipients for our fiscal problems.

International Trade

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the federal government's refusal to compromise, in the case of the Team Canada trade mission to China, is leading straight to a useless confrontation between Ottawa and the new government in Quebec. Yesterday, the Prime Minister again stubbornly refused to let Mr. Parizeau send one of his ministers instead.

Does the Prime Minister not realize that Mr. Parizeau, who has just been elected with a mandate to put Quebec back on track, has more pressing priorities than spending 15 days with him in China?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when we discussed these plans in December among first ministers, it was decided we would work together, and the Premiers said it was a very good idea for those who were able to do so to accompany me on this trip.

At the time, we thought about three or four would be coming along. Since then, there has been a lot of interest from the business community, and there will be a large number of people on this trip, including quite a few from Quebec.

During the summer, some Premiers who thought they would not be able to come had asked to be replaced. They were told that those who could would come along and as for the others, it was just too bad. In any case, this is a Canadian delegation that will include a large number of business people. There will be twice as many as we had planned. Canada, Quebec and the other provinces will be represented by the business people on the trip and by the Prime Minister of Canada, who also happens to be a Quebecer.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, if we look at this logically and ignore the politics, it is hard to explain the Prime Minister's stubborn attitude. Could it be that after being forced to pay the bill for Charlottetown, which he had refused to do, for no good reason, he is now trying to turn around and show English Canada that he can hold his own against Quebec's demands, even if they are legitimate?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition should explain that the trip will involve only five or six days in China, not two weeks. After that, I am going to Hong Kong, then to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Council conference in Indonesia and, finally, to Vietnam. The business part of the trip is the visit to China, which will take three or four days. This is to create jobs. I am prepared to co-operate with all governments. As for the money we paid last week, we made sure that the promise made to Quebec was a genuine promise. I made that decision very carefully.

The Leader of the Opposition should have the courtesy to rise in the House and thank me for reversing the decision of the previous government, which did not want to pay. This was a case of Mr. Mulroney having said something in private but never having mentioned it, nor did Ms. Campbell, to the Conservative government at the time. I dealt with the problem. I am not afraid of how English Canada will react, on the contrary. All Canadian editorial writers approved what we did, with very few exceptions. The rest felt that we made the right decision. If people want to criticize me for being careful to avoid turning this into a controversy, I accept that criticism, but I can never be too careful with taxpayers money.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister better not think he can silence the Bloc just because he paid Quebec the money it was due, and very reluctantly at that.

Can the Prime Minister not see that his obstinacy will seriously undermine the credibility of Canada's commercial delegation to China by excluding the two governments of Ontario and Quebec which represent more than 60 per cent of the Canadian population?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are not excluding anybody. It is a federal initiative. I am leading the delegation. I have offered provincial premiers to come with me.

At the beginning there were very few who thought they could come along, but enthusiasm has developed over the months with a growing number of business people coming from all over Canada. There is a large delegation of Quebec business people coming who have confidence. They want to be with me to work and create jobs for the people of Quebec. I am sorry the premier of Quebec and the premier of Ontario cannot come. They are not obliged to be there because I am going there representing all Canadians.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

I would be delighted to represent the interests of the Bloc Quebecois as well.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's natural talent for generating conflict between the federal government and the government of Quebec has been in evidence for some time now. When he is not sticking his nose in someone else's jurisdiction, he is putting his foot in it.

Does the Prime Minister of Canada not realize that by choosing who must represent the governments of Quebec or Ontario, he is interfering directly in an area of responsibility exclusive to the heads of these governments, and that it is none of his business?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, last December the provincial premiers and myself reached an amicable agreement to work together. I invited them to come with me. Several of them said: "We would like to, but we cannot". Some of them called me to ask if they could send a representative and I told them they could not, because it had been agreed that the heads of each of these governments would be attending. So, I was not seeking confrontation. It is a Canadian delegation; the premiers have been invited and those who can are coming, and those who cannot are not.

I have been accused of provoking the provincial government, and yet the Minister of Finance, for example, is looking for ways to replace the GST and is seeking the co-operation of the provinces. But the government of Quebec has already said that it will not take part. When the Minister of Natural Resources, at the request of members of the Bloc Quebecois, attempts to do something for Canada's forestry development program, the Quebec Minister of Forestry refuses to attend the forestry ministers' conference in New Brunswick. Yet some very nice people show a willingness to work with the federal government. Last week, the premier of Quebec said that his sole objective in the months to come was to derail the federal machine.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, what we are talking about right now is the conduct of the Prime Minister of Canada.

My question is as follows: In requiring the premier of Quebec to bow to his diktat, does the Prime Minister not realize that he is heading towards an inevitable and pointless confrontation with the government of Quebec, given that the real objective, the unspoken objective is to isolate the sovereign government of Quebec and exclude it from his federal mission?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, frankly, this is an exaggeration. The decision not to allow substitutes was taken last December. There was a Liberal government in power at the time, and I wish this had not changed. I did not pick the election date, and if the premier of Quebec is unable to leave Quebec for a few days to come to China with us, then Quebecers should tell themselves that we will be ably represented by Quebec businessmen and by a

member from Quebec who also happens to be the Prime Minister of Canada.