Debates of Nov. 30th, 1994

Bosnia

[Jack Frazer, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's mission to Sarajevo today has failed. The Bosnian Serbs refused to meet with him and the Bosnian government refused to agree to a ceasefire.

Should Canada not now take the position that unless all UN detainees are immediately released, there be no further aggression against UN personnel, the Sarajevo airport be reopened to humanitarian flights and convoys allowed to proceed and an effective ceasefire be put in place, Canada should call for the withdrawal of all UN forces from Bosnia?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been quite clear on Canada's participation in this very troubled mission and I do not propose to repeat it.

I subscribe to some of the points raised by the hon. member. We in Canada believe that obviously those detained should be released, that the hostilities should cease, that there should be a ceasefire, and that the Sarajevo airport should be reopened. We believe all of that and we believe that can be accomplished by negotiation.

We are very sorry that the Secretary-General of the UN was denied a meeting today. I would only hope that this is yet another bargaining ploy on the part of those who refused to meet with him and that they will get down to meaningful negotiations within the next few days.

[Jack Frazer, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question.

The situation in Bosnia is increasingly hazardous and is causing great concern to all Canadians. All possible attempts should be pursued in attempting to find a resolution.

The contact group, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S., was formed last April to use diplomacy to minimize tensions and to encourage agreements among the warring factions. Why is Canada not a member of that contact group?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, if I could answer that I would certainly be a wise person.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister have made the point that Canada should have been part of that group. We are among the top contributors of forces in the ex-Yugoslavia. It is a shame and a disgrace that we are not part of that group. I hope the Prime Minister makes that point this weekend in Budapest.

Reproductive Technologies

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. On November 30, 1993, exactly a year ago today, the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies published its final report after studying the issue for four years and spending over $28 million. We are still waiting patiently for the federal government to respond to the commission's recommendations.

How can the Minister of Justice explain that, one year after the Baird report was tabled, he still has not introduced a bill to regulate reproductive technologies, research on human embryos as well as the sale of ova and human foetal tissue in Canada?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health have been working on the response to the royal commission for quite a while.

As the hon. member knows, the royal commission created far more controversy than it answered questions. We need to look at how we can deal with provinces and with special groups, to look at how we can set guidelines for recommendations and to follow the recommendations.

However, as far as taking our time, I bring to the hon. member's attention the fact that the royal commission was supposed to have reported in two years. It took four years to bring in its report.

Because the matter is so controversial I think it is quite acceptable that we have to deal with the same controversies in formulating our response.

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I think that blaming the government's delay in introducing a bill on the commission's own two-year delay in tabling its report is a pretty poor excuse. Is the minister aware that by delaying the introduction of his bill, he makes it even more difficult, if not impossible, to counter abuses in research on human embryos and to prevent the sale of ova and foetal tissue on the black market?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member mentioned the fact that we must counter abuses. We are dealing with an extremely serious and extremely difficult and complicated issue.

This department and the Minister of Health want to ensure that we make the right choices that will ensure the safety of Canadians and will ensure that all medical, ethical, social and psychological issues are dealt with.

Unemployment Insurance

[Stan Dromisky, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

In northwestern Ontario companies frequently lay off employees due to seasonal and climatic factors. Through no fault of their own affected employees end up having to claim unemployment insurance frequently.

What is being done to ensure that this type of unemployment insurance claimant is not unfairly affected by the proposed UI reforms?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, we are particularly sensitive to the importance of a wide variety of seasonal and cyclical work in the country. It is important for a variety of regions.

As the House probably knows, for that reason we established a special working group that represents different sectors and different regions of the economy. We are now specifically looking at the issue of seasonal work. We have established a series of bilateral discussions with construction trades and other affected sectors. We are working with them in a very co-operative way to make sure that any new design of unemployment insurance fits the requirements of Canadian industry and Canadian seasonal workers.

Hibernia

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the House the Prime Minister stated and today the

Minister of Natural Resources reaffirmed that they would ask Canada's representative on the Hibernia holding company to ask for a review of the contract to Saint John Shipyards. I have been assured by the officials of the Hibernia holding company that the awarding of this contract to Saint John Shipyards was done as a fully justifiable decision in full accord with the provisions of the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act.

My question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. How can she justify interfering politically in this matter when the Hibernia consortium clearly followed the rules contained in the offshore accord?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, let me explain that in spite of whatever contacts the hon. member may have and what he may think about the processes that were followed, the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Board which is seized with the regulation and determination of these issues, concluded late last week that Canadian shipyards were not given a fair and full opportunity to tender for the work in question.

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, clause 45 of the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic accord states that in instances where the budget or the time restraints are in question the accord allows for contracts to be given without tender.

I would like to ask the minister why she would jeopardize the budget and the completion date of the entire project by demanding a review and/or tendering of the contract when it is clear that all the rules have been followed.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate. In spite of what the hon. member has asserted, the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Board, a board created to deal with these issues, has determined that the rules were not followed, that all Canadian shipyards were not given a full and fair opportunity to bid on the contract.

I do not think there is anything else I can say on the issue.

Severance Pay

[Yvan Bernier, Bloc, Gaspé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Canadian press revealed how generous the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is when it comes to pleasing his friends with money provided by Canadian taxpayers.

My question is for the fisheries minister. Can the minister explain to us how someone can work for four months in his office, quit his job voluntarily and pocket a bonus of $31,000, then be rehired by the minister in the same office at an annual salary of $93,000, without having to pay back even a cent of his severance pay? How?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, the individual in question is the executive assistant to the minister of fisheries. Last February he was named in a matter that was under investigation in the Parliament of Newfoundland regarding fundraising practices in the province of Newfoundland.

The individual in question, my executive assistant, resigned his position in my office the next day until the matter had been cleared up. As it turned out the matter in question was subsequently referred to the RCMP because it involved a provincial cabinet minister.

Seven and a half months later the RCMP concluded that notwithstanding questions raised in the House initially by the opposition, subsequently referred to the RCMP for a thorough seven and a half months investigation, that individual was cleared of any question of wrongdoing whatsoever.

In that seven and a half months period the individual, Mr. Gary Anstey, sought no employment with any other operational organization, received no other income, in fact went without income for three and a half months.

After he was cleared of any wrongdoing he was restored to his job as executive assistant. He has done without three and a half months' salary in the process. How that can be described as a golden handshake boggles the imagination.

[Yvan Bernier, Bloc, Gaspé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as we well understand, the minister's answer shows that he cannot deny that the amount of severance pay was at his discretion.

How can the minister, who preached virtue when he was in opposition, take refuge behind Treasury Board's lax rules to explain such generosity to his friends when the government is not ashamed to cut unemployment insurance for those who quit their jobs voluntarily? That is what bothers us. How can he do it?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member would want me to restate two points he made rather quickly.

First, the individual in question was away for seven and a half months and in that period received no salary for three and a half months.

Second, Treasury Board rules provide in this kind of circumstance-and I would be glad to lay a copy on the table for the House-for up to six months' severance pay for an individual who leaves a job abruptly for these kinds of reasons.

The assistant deputy minister of corporate affairs, when I sought advice, recommended in writing four months' severance. I accepted the advice.

Government Expenditures

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, first we learned about the limo service of the official language commissioner and Ottawa digs at taxpayers' expense. Now we hear that the part time chairman of Ports Canada has billed the government $61,500 in extra pay on top of $53,000 in expenses, $12,000 for an Ottawa apartment that is used 24 days a year and $34,500 in travel from his home in Vermont. Does this sound like fiscal restraint, Mr. Speaker?

My question is for the President of the Treasury Board. Will he undertake an immediate review of per diems, honoraria and expense accounts of all government appointees to federal agencies?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows the government has already undertaken a review of all agencies and boards, and we are doing it very quickly.

I look forward to the assistance of members of the third party and other members of the House as we review in depth the operations on the maritime side of my responsibilities at Transport Canada. We have already announced that we are going to be looking at the structure of Ports Canada and how these arrangements are arrived at.

The case that the hon. member raises today is a result of an order in council appointment that I understand was made in 1987. It exemplifies the need to review all of these matters in depth, whether they have to do with the per diems of the chairman of Canada Ports Corporation or orders in council.

I can assure the hon. member that we are going to be doing it as quickly as we can. I look forward to their co-operation on this matter, unlike some of the things we have tried to correct where they have gotten into bed with whoever is convenient.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I address my supplementary question to the Minister of the Treasury Board.

Reviewing is one thing, we want action after the review. The government is sending all the wrong signals to its federal officials. How can we expect the bureaucracy to spend more responsibly when the executive assistant to the minister of fisheries received a $31,000 severance package for four months-or seven months even, I could certainly live on that-and is not even required to repay a penny when he is rehired to the same position several months later?

My question is for the Minister of the Treasury Board. How can the government dare to ask Canadians to tighten their belts? What part of fiscal restraint does he not understand?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has made it quite clear that the employee involved resigned.

Until an investigation could be completed that person was without employment for some seven and a half months, which means that the $31,000 covered only the first three and a half months. There was a considerable period of time when that person was not employed and yet that person had not done anything wrong, as the minister clearly said.

The government is dedicated to ensuring the cost efficiency of every taxpayers' dollar that comes into the revenues of the government. We are tightening up on many of these procedures which previous governments had put in place to make sure that happens.

Salmon Sport Fishery

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

The Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia has developed a proposal called Quickstart to rebuild stocks of coho and chinook salmon. All sectors of the industry in British Columbia, commercial, sport, and aboriginal fishers, will work together in rebuilding the stock and also restoring habitat with broad community involvement.

Has the government endorsed the Quickstart plan, and when will it come into effect?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, receiving such a valuable, worthwhile and sensible question gives me a quick start today.

We have had many questions about the state of the coho salmon resource in British Columbia from members on all sides of the House. The proposal of which the member speaks is a private sector initiative that we welcome, one that will help rebuild weak stocks of coho and chinook salmon through a privately funded program of support of breeding and habitat restoration.

The program Quickstart represents a unique partnership between the private sector, the sport fishing sector and both levels

of government. It is a solid initiative. We intend to work fully and quickly with the proponents to make sure it is a success.

Native Peoples

[André Caron, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. We just learned from Statistics Canada that the tuberculosis rate among status Indians is 43 times higher than for non-native Canadians born in this country. In fact, the infection rate is higher than in some of the world's poorest countries.

Since this incredible rate reflects appalling living conditions, can the minister tell us which concrete proposal his colleague from Public Works made to native leaders who recently met with him, to improve the housing conditions which are at the root of these health problems?