House of Commons Hansard #126 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was program.

Topics

Air SafetyOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Bloc

Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell this House whether the control measures contemplated include surprise inspections by his department. Should carriers that pose a risk not be placed under the direct supervision of Transport Canada?

Air SafetyOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Acadie—Bathurst New Brunswick

Liberal

Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, this whole issue of safety is a very important one. It is the primary responsibility of the Department of Transport. I can assure my hon. colleague that we will continue to exercise all due diligence to ensure that all air carriers abide by the existing regulations.

Problems can always arise, but, as far as possible, we want to leave no doubt in the minds of Canadians and foreigners travelling in Canada as to the safety and efficiency of our air transportation system.

AgricultureOral Question Period

11:45 a.m.

Reform

Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB

Mr. Speaker, Ontario wheat farmers have been electing their wheat board directors for some time. This system seems to work very well for them. Are western farmers less capable, less deserving?

Why does the minister of agriculture absolutely refuse to permit western farmers to elect their wheat board directors?

AgricultureOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Regina—Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I point out to the hon. member that it was a previous Liberal government that provided the first electoral process with respect to the Canadian Wheat Board, that is the election of the advisory committee.

As far as future changes that might take place within the corporate government structure is concerned, it is a subject on which farmers will be having discussions this winter. I will be very interested to hear the varying points of view from farmers on that particular approach to corporate governance.

One of the technical matters that the hon. member should bear in mind concerning the difference between the Canadian Wheat Board and the Ontario Wheat Producers Marketing Board is that under the Canadian Wheat Board system we have the provision under federal legislation for government financial guarantees concerning initial payments. That obviously is a substantial financial distinction between the operations of the two boards and indicates why in some circumstances the methods of corporate governance might well be different.

AgricultureOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Reform

Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB

Mr. Speaker, this is really stupid. Too much time and too little action.

The question is, democracy or dictatorship? That is the question. Do we have a democracy or are we going to continue with this dictatorship?

Is the minister going to continue to deny farmers democracy and continue with this present dictatorship?

AgricultureOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Regina—Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, as usual in the rather simplistic approach of the Reform Party its members are missing a very fundamental point.

It is important to make intelligent, thoughtful decisions after everyone, in a fully democratic manner, has had an opportunity to discuss the matter and state their points of view, rather than pre-empting all of the discussion and simply opting for a proposal put forward by a political party that has already made up its mind, in the form of the Reform Party. It does not represent the majority of western Canadian farmers.

Canadian NationalOral Question Period

November 18th, 1994 / 11:50 a.m.

Liberal

Len Hopkins Liberal Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

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

I wrote to Canadian National real estate on February 10 asking about the CN abandoned railway line between Renfrew and Arnprior. I received no reply. I wrote again on June 10-no answer. Repeated phone calls finally produced a letter on October 25 ignoring my concerns.

Canadian National real estate cancelled an appointment to meet with me this week.

Will the Minister of Transport tell the president of Canadian National that the corporation has the responsibility to answer mail from members of Parliament and that it has no right to treat Parliament with contempt? We have to represent constituents.

Canadian NationalOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Acadie—Bathurst New Brunswick

Liberal

Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, in listening to the member's question I can only say to him and to other members that I will take steps today to check to see what happened in the member's particular situation.

But I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, and even my friends the Reformers who I know are not in favour of writing letters-they do not put pen to paper very often, they do everything by telephone-I will ensure that the officials of Canadian National respond rapidly and appropriately to all members of Parliament on all sides of the House.

Quebec City BridgeOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Bloc

Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. The Quebec City bridge has been designated a historic monument by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is one of the finest engineering structures in Canada. This bridge, which was built between 1900 and 1919, now needs major repairs which, according to experts, would cost $45 million over a six-year period.

Since the owner, Canadian National, did not allocate the resources needed to keep it in good condition, the bridge has deteriorated considerably.

Given the importance of the Quebec City bridge as a rail link between the two shores of the St. Lawrence at Quebec City and its historic and tourist potential for that region, does the minister not think that this bridge should undergo major repairs and that the work should start as soon as possible?

Quebec City BridgeOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Acadie—Bathurst New Brunswick

Liberal

Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member said that the Quebec City bridge he is referring to belongs to Canadian National. If repairs are needed-and I readily accept what the hon. member said about the condition of the bridge-, we will ask CN to review the matter and see if it is possible to announce the measures they will take to try to repair the bridge.

Pearson International AirportOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Reform

Jim Gouk Reform Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Pearson airport question is a matter of the right of due process. In this context the fact that Bill C-22 deals with Pearson airport at all is coincidental and could just as easily deal with a rail privatization contract, a government construction contract or an airport contract under the minister's proposed national airports program.

Can the Minister of Transport advise the House how he justifies denying any Canadian the right of due process?

Pearson International AirportOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Acadie—Bathurst New Brunswick

Liberal

Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, if the question was not so serious because of the importance of Pearson, I would be tempted to contrast the approach the Reform Party takes to taxing Canadian taxpayers with a $445 million bill which would be the result. If the contract was found to be valid, entered into in good faith, damages awarded, it could be $445 million.

I am tempted to contrast that with the view of Reformers when they are dealing with some of the questions they bring up here where they show no respect for the law and no respect for the courts, but they want their friends who are involved in this deal to be in the courts so that they can rip us off for $445 million.

Grain TransportationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Len Taylor NDP The Battlefords—Meadow Lake, SK

Mr. Speaker, the minister of agriculture in announcing that the Liberals will change the Crow benefit has betrayed a long held commitment to prairie farmers and the communities that they support.

Has the minister failed to understand the importance of the Crow benefit to the economic viability of the prairies or is he just ignoring the views of thousands of farmers heard in recent public hearings?

Grain TransportationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Regina—Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman in asking the question is overlooking the impact of the soon to be implemented General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and particularly the new World Trade Organization which brings to bear some important disciplines in the world on the use of export subsidies.

We will insist that other countries around the world adhere to their obligations under the new GATT. That will mean for example that countries like the United States will for the first time in a long time have to bring down some of its export subsidies such as the export enhancement program.

While we expect every other country in the world to abide by their obligations, Canada must abide by those same obligations. Within the terms of the new GATT agreement a portion of the Western Grain Transportation Act is defined as an export subsidy. In those circumstances we can do one of two things. We can either change the Western Grain Transportation Act so it no longer falls within the definition of an export subsidy or we can leave it the way it is and live within those new highly restrictive disciplines.

Obviously it is to the advantage of western farmers to change the Western Grain Transportation Act rather than suffer the tough disciplines under the new World Trade Organization.

TradeOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

David Berger Liberal Saint-Henri—Westmount, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade.

The Prime Minister is the first to acknowledge that deals are done by businessmen and women, that they depend on their abilities and those of management and workers. Yet every team needs a leader.

Considering the positive tone set by the Prime Minister and the doors he opened, can the minister inform the House what results were obtained in Canada's largest ever trade mission abroad?

TradeOral Question Period

Noon

Ottawa Centre Ontario

Liberal

Mac Harb LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade

Mr. Speaker, there are two theories. The first theory states that for every $1 billion in trade, we create up to 9,000 jobs. Another theory states that for every $1 billion in trade, we create up to 15,000 jobs.

If we take the worst possible scenario, this trip will generate up to $10 billion in revenues to Canada's industries. If we multiply that by 9,000 that will give us 90,000 jobs at least. If we look at the best possible scenario, it will give us 150,000 jobs over the next few years.

While I am on my feet I want to say that the trade figures-

TradeOral Question Period

Noon

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

TradeOral Question Period

Noon

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)

Order, please.

TradeOral Question Period

Noon

Liberal

Brian Tobin Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL

Mr. Speaker, the House has been deprived of the best answer we have heard all week. Wait until you hear the rest of it.

TradeOral Question Period

Noon

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Sudbury Ontario

Liberal

Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the first report of the Standing Committee on Health entitled "Toward Zero Consumption, Generic Packaging of Tobacco Products".

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Edmonton Northwest Alberta

Liberal

Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the second report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources entitled "Canada: A Model Forest Nation in the Making".

Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to certain petitions.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Liberal

Jean-Robert Gauthier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

This report relates to Bill C-57, an act to implement the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization. The committee considered the bill and presents the report, with amendments.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Liberal

Gordon Kirkby Liberal Prince Albert—Churchill River, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development regarding Bill C-55, an act to establish a board having jurisdiction concerning disputes respecting surface rights in respect of land in the Yukon Territory, and to amend other acts in relation thereto, without amendment.