Debates of Dec. 15th, 1994

Post-Secondary Education

[Laurent Lavigne, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Everybody knows that the reform proposed by the minister for post-secondary education has met with strong opposition from the provinces and student associations.

Does the minister still intend to go ahead with his reform of post-secondary education funding, as proposed in his green book, when the provinces and student associations are very much opposed to this proposal?

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

Mr. Speaker, if there is any broad unanimity in the country from one end to the other, I suppose it is the need for a substantial, major overhaul and reform of all social programs including those in post-secondary education. In the province of Quebec alone 95 per cent believe it is time for major reform in social programs.

As the hon. member knows, a Commons committee has been holding hearings. We have had widespread consultation through a questionnaire. We have now received 20,000 copies from Canadians. They will be analysed. There is an ongoing series of discussions and a wide variety of options.

The hon. member, as a member of Parliament, would not want me to preclude the judgment of his colleagues who have spent a great deal of time listening to Canadians, or preclude the judgment of many Canadians who have bothered to take the time to write in to give their contributions, by simply making an arbitrary judgment, as it seems the Bloc has done, before listening to the Canadian people.

[Laurent Lavigne, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that people have already been waiting for quite a while. Everybody is aware of the minister's proposal and even Ontario has expressed some opposition.

How can the minister claim to represent a flexible federalism when he threatens to retaliate against the government of Ontario if it continues to make public its resistance to the proposed reform?

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

Mr. Speaker, the one thing that will never lead to co-operative or flexible federalism is the kind of fearmongering the hon. member has just engaged in. I have never made suggestions or threats of the kind the hon. member suggested. He should withdraw that remark. It is not based on any fact or any presupposition.

I would simply say to him that at this time the broad majority of Canadians want some change. They want governments to work together on change. They want us to find the best ways to spend our money.

I keep saying the only group that seems to be objecting continually without analysing or considering the options is the Bloc Quebecois. It is simply standing in the way of Canadians getting what they want, which is a much better, more effective social system that will help people get back to work.

Agriculture

[Jake Hoeppner, Reform, Lisgar—Marquette, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

In 1983 the government implemented the Western Grain Transportation Act that gave railways guaranteed returns on investments and operating expenses. Not only was it a licence to print money. It also allowed railways to become inefficient and non-performing since they were paid regardless of how they moved prairie grain.

Is the minister now proposing to offload past Liberal mistakes on to farmers in the form of a cash buyout?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member knows the Minister of Transport and I are working on a set of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Canadian grain handling and transportation system. That obviously includes a very detailed examination of existing legislation in the form of the Western Grain Transportation Act.

In terms of a consultative process, a very extensive process is now under way by both the Minister of Transport and myself consulting with farm organizations, farmers and all other stakeholders in the grain transportation system. Our objective is to collect all their recommendations and advice toward the end of this year or the very early part of 1995 so that early in the new year we can put before our cabinet colleagues a set of proposals to deal with some longstanding issues in our grain handling and transportation system.

Our objective, in the final analysis, is to ensure we position the country to compete with the rest of the world and win in our grain sector.

[Jake Hoeppner, Reform, Lisgar—Marquette, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister knows very well that three prairie premiers insist that the Western Grain Transportation Act represents an inherent right promised to prairie provinces. They also insist that none of these moneys go into the east and that they stay in the west.

Is the minister prepared to put these funds into a safety net program that will offset the effects of U.S. and European subsidized products in the form of a trade distortion adjustment program?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, a variety of proposals are under consideration. Some of those proposals come from the producer payment panel, which was a consultative process that ultimately reported publicly in June of this year. There have been other proposals in terms of the structure of the method of payment that have come from the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Various farm organizations have come forward with other alternatives. There is clearly a difference in view among farmers and farm organizations in western Canada on whether the funds either partially or totally should be dedicated to some kind of a safety net system. That is one of the alternatives on the table.

However I must tell the hon. gentleman that thus far in the consultations we have had with farmers and farm organizations the recommendations and advice we are receiving are very much against the notion of folding the funds into any kind of safety net.

Softwood Lumber Industry

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

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

For several months Canadian lumber companies have been waiting for the United States to begin repaying the bulk of softwood lumber duties collected on Canadian exports. Can the minister tell this House when Canadian companies will begin receiving repayment of these funds?

[Roy MacLaren, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, those in the United States lumber industry who had challenged the NAFTA procedures have now agreed unanimously to withdraw their lawsuit.

Accordingly, with the removal of this final obstacle, I understand that the United States Department of Commerce will in the next days begin to return the deposits of Canadian lumber companies, totalling some $800 million plus interest.

I should add that the Canadian and United States governments will join in a consultative process to facilitate trade in lumber on both sides of our border.

Tributes

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, it is quite probable that this will be our last question period this year. Today, I want to do something that I know you will agree with. The House is saying goodbye to three of its House officers who have been with us for a great many years.

In offering tribute, I would like André Fréchette, the head page who has been with us for 42 years, to please come and stand with me on my right.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I would also like to invite our two deputy sergeants-at-arms. They have always been at that end of the House but for today, gentlemen, I wonder if you would join me here in front of the Speaker's chair.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I would first call on the member for Kingston and the Islands.

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, today is the last working day on the floor of the House for our chief page, André Fréchette. He has had an amazing term of service in this House. What is more amazing is that the 41 years he has worked here represents more than 80 per cent of his life and I do not mean working life.

Of the 10 Prime Ministers who have been in office since the beginning of his employment in this House, nine have benefited from time to time from his assistance. I am certain there is no other living Canadian who can claim to have personally assisted nine Prime Ministers not to mention 14 leaders of the opposition, scores of cabinet ministers and probably more than 1,000 members of Parliament.

During his years of service he has learned more about the House and its workings than most members. He always seems to be the first to know what is going to happen in the House, often being able to provide helpful advice to members and to other staff.

Mr. Fréchette started his career with the House as a page when he was barely into his teens and it is only just that he should retire now while he is still a youngish man.

We will miss him very much in this House, Mr. Speaker, but of course we will be reminded of his presence on a daily basis because of the very able staff that he has trained to function in his absence.

Mr. Fréchette, we wish you a long and happy retirement.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, three employees of the House of Commons are about to retire, namely Léo Robitaille, who has been with us since 1953, Sam Renaud, since 1954, and André Fréchette, since 1951.

Serving the members of this House takes dedication, patience and understanding, and we would be unable to do our job without their support.

I would like to comment particularly on Mr. Fréchette's career which kept him in the House for 43 years. He started working here when he was 11, under Louis Saint-Laurent. He has known 12 speakers and several generations of members. I think this is a record, and should be in the Guinness Book of Records.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

I wish to thank Mr. Robitaille, Mr. Renaud and Mr. Fréchette on behalf of all members of the Bloc Quebecois.

We wish you a long and happy retirement!

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Darrel Stinson, Reform, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today it is both an honour and indeed a pleasure to pay tribute on behalf of the Reform Party of Canada to my friend, chief page André Fréchette, on the occasion of his retirement.

Mr. Fréchette was born in Hull and first came to work in this place in 1951. He became chief page in 1980. What are his plans for retirement? We know he enjoys bowling every week, and we wish him all success to bowl perfect games. In the summer he knows the many wonderful locations where he can pick every kind of wild berry around the area.

After 42 years as a page he has well earned a rest, but we have been informed that a friend has also invited him to form a partnership in a small business. Mr. Fréchette has a big decision to make ahead. But I know he will bring his special enthusiasm to whatever choice he makes.

What advice would he give to young people today? I would like to quote: "Do anything you can to become a page. It is the best experience in the world and it is wonderful for young people to feel they are contributing to their country".

I am sure his wife, daughter and grandson take special pride in the years that he has given to Canada. I want to express the appreciation and congratulations of Parliament and our personal thanks to chief page André Fréchette. We will all miss you.

Also, we would like to extend our best wishes on the retirement of Mr. Leo Robitaille who has served Parliament here since 1953, and Mr. Sam Renaud since 1954. We wish you the best of everything in your retirement and the best of the season.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is a rather special day for me. As you know, I am the only staff member of the House of Commons ever to have been elected to this place since Confederation. That I consider special. What is even more special today is to say to you and to hon. members that I have had the opportunity of working with all three people we are honouring this afternoon.

At one time I worked in the parliamentary restaurant like Mr. Léo Robitaille, who is being honoured today. As a member of this House, I have always known and worked with Mr. André Fréchette. I also came to know Mr. Renaud.

If I could pretend for an instant that I am still an employee of the House of Commons, as I was a long time ago, I would like to tell these three men that the members of the House wish them the very best. I am sure that, in my imaginary capacity as an employee of this House, I also speak for all the employees of this House.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Audrey McLaughlin, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the New Democratic Party, I too would like to wish Mr. Robitaille, Mr. Fréchette and Mr. Renaud a very happy retirement and also thank them very much for their service to this House and to generations of parliamentarians and to young people throughout the years.

I want to wish them a happy retirement.

By the way, Mr. Speaker, there are many other employees in the House of Commons who are going to retire.

I would like to also thank all of those other employees of Parliament who are taking retirement on January 1 and to thank them as well for their service to this Parliament.