Debates of Dec. 5th, 1994

Ethanol

[Gar Knutson, Liberal, Elgin—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the recent trade mission the government led to the People's Republic of China has been a great success.

One of the agreements signed by Canadian business while in China was the building of an ethanol plant. The people of China will benefit greatly from ethanol. So will the environment of Asia, Chinese farmers and industry. This technology can also benefit Canada.

The proposed ethanol plant to be located at Chatham, Ontario will ensure that this country does not have to rely on foreign produced ethanol and, as in China, our agricultural industry will be able to count on a stable consumer of corn.

Ethanol makes economic and environmental sense. I praise the Chinese government for showing interest in this technology.

Canadian Wheat Board

[Marlene Cowling, Liberal, Dauphin—Swan River, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Wheat Board is a winner.

Prairie farmers have overwhelmingly demonstrated their confidence in the Canadian Wheat Board by electing 10 strong supporters of the agency to its 11 member advisory board. They have rejected the efforts of a small but vocal group that wanted to weaken the board and implement a dual marketing system. Their vote was a sweeping endorsement of the board and single desk selling.

It is a recognition of the outstanding job that the wheat board has done selling Canadian grain, expanding export markets and working with farmers to make Canada a world leader in agricultural production.

The message from farmers is clear. The future of Canadian agriculture must include a strong Canadian Wheat Board.

St. Lawrence Seaway

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a recent subcommittee report highlighted our under usage of the St. Lawrence seaway system.

It is my hope the justice department will approve the proposal submitted to it by interested operators to allow cruise ships to sail the lakes. With 14 million Americans within a one-hour

drive of my riding I would welcome approval to allow them to enter Canada to enjoy the pleasure of sailing the lakes.

This is an opportunity for the federal government to see a tidal wave of American tourist dollars enter Canada, with a resulting spin-off being increased employment in our hospitality industries.

Skagway, Alaska with a population of 700 people welcomes 300,000 people each summer from cruise ships. Ports of all sizes along the Great Lakes would welcome the same level of prosperity if timely approval is given.

The Great Lakes Conference of Mayors recognized the potential of this industry more than a year ago. I urge the departments of justice and finance to move this concept to the approval stage quickly before our American neighbours control this industry.

[Translation]

Social Program Reform

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in Montreal, 200 students and unemployed young people came to tell the Minister for Human Resources Development how deeply disappointed they were by the social program reform the Liberal government is trying to impose on them.

These young people, full of energy and eager to work, denounced the cynicism and lack of action of the minister who claims that he is powerless to stem the rising unemployment rate.

These young people strongly criticized the reform which is trying to save money at their expense, going ahead without the provinces' consent, and turns a deaf ear to Quebec's demand to take over manpower training.

These young people refuse to have imposed on them a reform which endangers their future and cuts social benefits hard-won by previous generations. The results of the public consultation are loud and clear: the proposed reform is unacceptable and young people reject it.

Regional Development

[Ian McClelland, Reform, Edmonton Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the business community is near consensus. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business declared its research consistently shows that small and medium sized businesses advocate the complete elimination of all grants and subsidies to businesses and associations. Yet the Liberals continually insist they are helping small business through regional development.

The Business Council on National Issues had but one suggestion for the federal government: "Just say no". The Canadian Aerospace Industry said: "We have seen attempts to create pseudo-competition by region in this county by pitting companies against each other supported by tax dollars. This has resulted in wasted energy, misguided marketing, lost opportunity, squandered money, and all too frequently, failed enterprises".

If the minister will not eliminate regional development he might as well amalgamate the regional development programs. He could then create a new crown corporation called "Pork Barrel Incorporated".

Infrastructure Program

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, recently in my riding of Brant, we have witnessed a successful and important example of intergovernmental co-operation.

The town of Paris has recognized that its police station is outmoded and can no longer effectively meet the town's needs. Meanwhile, Canada Post, while continuing to serve the rural and urban residents of the area, has been under utilizing its large building in the downtown core.

After successful negotiations, the town of Paris and Canada Post have reached an agreement under which the town will renovate the old post office into a new and modern police station with the help of infrastructure money, which I might add is another product of intergovernmental co-operation. Canada Post will find a more suitable and cost-effective location to continue its service to the town.

I would like to congratulate the council of the town of Paris and in particular, Mayor Bawcutt, for identifying and implementing this common sense deal. I would also like to recognize Canada Post for its effective resource management and its commitment to the betterment of our local communities.

Post-Secondary Education

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I was delighted to see a draft memorandum of understanding between Nunavut Arctic College, which is based in Iqaluit, and Trent University in Peterborough. It provides for the development of mutual accreditation of courses, exchanges of faculty, students and staff and the development of other joint programs.

It also provides for the participation of the Nunavut Implementation Commission, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and other bodies in the development of post-secondary education in Nunavut.

Trent has the longest established native studies program in Canada. Many students from the NWT have already studied in that program and other programs at Trent University.

This new agreement formalizes two-way co-operation. I congratulate those involved and look forward to working with the member for Nunatsiaq on projects related to the agreement.

Gun Control

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on November 21 my colleague, the member for Cape Breton-The Sydneys, spoke eloquently in the House about the importance of gun control to women.

He pointed out that a woman is shot to death every five days in Canada, half of those by a partner, 78 per cent with legally owned weapons.

I believe that most members of Parliament want to see an end to violence against women and yet offhand comments in the House and elsewhere call into question our commitment. As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice spoke on that day, another member, like a little boy playing with a pretend gun, said: "pow, pow, pow".

Such comments are a tragic betrayal of the hopes of women for a better and safer country.

Leader Of The Official Opposition

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

Mr. Speaker, after hours of anguish, we learned with tremendous relief that Lucien Bouchard was out of danger. We now hope that he can rest and recover at his own rate.

Speaking for the parliamentary wing of the Bloc Quebecois, I want to thank everybody and the members of this House for their fantastic messages of support and encouragement.

I also want to express our admiration for the Saint-Luc Hospital medical team, for its unbelievable expertise and dedication. Finally, on behalf of all of us, I want to stress the courage and composure of his wife, Audrey, who stood by his side every minute of this terrible tragedy, surrounding him with her loving presence. She, too, deserves all our admiration.

Regional Development

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada must stop the folly of regional policy. The Liberals continue their borrowing ways and the pork barrel rolls on and on. It is time to jump over the barrel.

Canada could learn from experiences around the world where these programs have failed miserably. The government knows regional development programs are doomed to fail, yet the practice continues.

The finance minister's budget will be quite telling. Will it be business as usual or will the minister heed the Reform message? Western economic diversification has not diversified the western economy. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is not creating opportunity. The Federal Office of Regional Development is not developing regions in Quebec.

Since their inception, these agencies impoverished the Canadian taxpayer to the tune of about $1 billion a year. It is time to end the folly of regional policy.

Leader Of The Official Opposition

[Patrick Gagnon, Liberal, Bonaventure—Îles-De-La-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Leader of the Opposition a speedy recovery.

Setting aside partisan rhetoric and the constitutional differences of opinion that oppose us, all my colleagues from the Liberal Party join me in telling the Leader of the Opposition that he is in our thoughts as he goes through what must certainly be the most difficult time of his life. We also wish his wife, children and family the courage to see him through this ordeal.

The words of support that flood in from all parts testify to the great parliamentary qualities of the Leader of the Opposition.

On behalf of all Canadians, I wish for the speedy return of the Leader of the Opposition among us, here in this House.

Violence Against Women

[Ron MacDonald, Liberal, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks the anniversary of the Montreal massacre.

Today I will not talk of the increased incidents of violence against women reported, nor will I talk about how only 18 per cent of the guns used to kill women were illegally owned.

Instead today I would like us to take one minute to remember the women who were killed that day. We remember the killer's name, but the women are faceless to most of us and just a number, 14.

Tomorrow I would like us to take a minute to remember, Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Natalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Maria Klucznik, Maryse Laganiere, Maryse Leclaire, Anne Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte.

Violence against women is not just a women's issue. Violence against women affects all of us.

Health Care

[Audrey McLaughlin, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, a serious issue of women's health has yet to be addressed by the government and that is the question of breast implants.

This issue was raised during the mandate of the former government and continues to be a serious issue related to the health of women.

Several organizations across the country of breast implant support groups have been formed and have been asking for assistance to make sure information is available to women who have had breast implants, that there is equal access to surgery for removal of breast implants and access to good primary care.

I call on the government to address this serious women's health issue, to respond to these groups that are requesting assistance and to look into the moratorium on breast implants which has not seen an end of their use.

Town Hall Meetings

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have just completed a series of town hall meetings across my riding of Simcoe Centre.

My constituents attended so they could discuss the issues, ask questions and give me their input. A survey was conducted at each meeting and I would like to share the results with the House.

Over 90 per cent responded that they believe there should be mandatory AIDS testing of all immigrants to Canada. There was overwhelming support for the review of social programs and that they be focused on those who are truly in need. Over 90 per cent want section 745 removed from the Criminal Code to eliminate possible early parole for those convicted of first degree murder. They also believe that the names of young offenders convicted of serious crimes should be made public.

On the issue of gun control, my constituents believe that the primary emphasis of new legislation should be placed on the criminal misuse of firearms and firearms smuggling and not new restrictions on legal gun owners.

Finally, I believe that I should represent my constituents and vote according to their wishes. I encourage all other members of the House to do the same.

Mil Davie Shipyard

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, by refusing to take a firm stand on the Hibernia contract issue, the government has made another move which, combined with the actions of the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Industry, will lead MIL Davie straight to disaster.

We learned over the weekend that the Minister of Industry had been keeping secret for more than a year a report on Canadian shipyards that urged the government to depend only on a small number of shipyards and drop MIL Davie.

In light of the unfair treatment of MIL Davie by the Hibernia consortium and the failure of the government to follow through with the Magdalen Islands ferry contract, does the Deputy Prime Minister recognize that all the actions of her government are being dictated by this secret report to the Minister of Industry, which has the MIL Davie slated for closure?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, before answering the hon. member's question, let me say that I was relieved to learn that the Leader of the Opposition was on his way to recovery. In the months to come, he will have to exhibit incredible strength, something we all know he is capable of, and we wish him much courage in getting better. Knowing the Leader of the Opposition-he is a real fighter-we are confident that he will return quickly.

In the name of all Canadians I would wish the Leader of the Opposition a very speedy recovery. The whole of Canada was watching the events of the last few days. Our hearts go out to him and to his family. We wish his speedy return to the House.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Hamilton East, ON]

To answer the question, Mr. Speaker, of course the government of Canada, through the Prime, has expressed disagreement with the policy adopted by the Hibernia consortium. We are aware of the possibility and support tendering. Unfortunately, we are dealing with a private sector consortium that is entitled to make its own decisions and, in spite of the views expressed by the government of Canada, it has decided not to proceed to a call for tenders, as we felt would have been proper and fair.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we asked the Minister of Industry several questions in this House on saving the MIL Davie shipyard.

Are we to understand from the answers of the industry minister, who has always hidden behind the lack of an MIL Davie business plan to avoid facing his responsibilities, that what he really wanted was to follow up on the secret report he has been hiding in his department for over a year, which proposes closing MIL Davie, and that the minister lacks the courage to say so frankly?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. member is big enough to admit, first of all, that MIL Davie's shareholder is responsible for announcing its position on the MIL Davie corporate plan submitted by the former Quebec government. That is first and foremost the shareholder's responsibility. That is what I said several times.

Yes, there was a report. That is no secret. The Financial Post obtained it on request. That is normal. That is the position of someone who was a consultant. That is not necessarily my position or the government's. Moreover, if MIL Davie wants to succeed, it must do so on global markets. That is what I said several times here.

For any company to succeed in the modern marketplace it must produce goods at a price the world is willing to pay to acquire them. That is first and foremost for any company the responsibility of its management and its shareholders to determine.

When we hear the point of view of the Quebec government on the MIL Davie business plan, when we know whether its unions are willing to support it, perhaps then we can respond accordingly to any further request we have on their behalf.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister knows full well that some contracts were necessary to allow MIL Davie to reorganize. Instead of acting as his responsibilities called for, the minister has always hidden behind the lack of so-called business plans.

Are we to understand that after demanding that Quebec make 90 per cent of the efforts to rationalize shipyards in Canada, the federal government's only goal, after closing the Sorel-Tracy shipyard and the Vickers shipyard in Montreal, is to close Quebec's third major and last remaining shipyard, MIL Davie, so that the shipyards in the Maritime provinces can survive?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, maybe using statistics for demagogic purposes is a good strategy. In fact, Quebec's share of shipyard rationalization is 30 per cent. Please, Mr. Speaker, let us stick to the facts.

Second, I wish to say to the hon. member that it is not a matter of hiding. I think it is essential for a company seeking help from the taxpayers in Canada and Quebec to have a good corporate plan that has been approved by shareholders and workers alike. At that point, we can make a move with MIL Davie.

I cannot understand why the member is not willing to say that we have to find a long term solution. If he would look at the business plan that has been presented, he would understand the business plan does not claim that the long term solution to MIL Davie is one contract turned over from anybody. The long term solution involves fundamental readjustment of that company to a new marketplace.

Social Program Reform

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Yesterday, the Minister of Human Resources Development greatly disappointed the young unemployed people who had come to discuss his reform of social programs with him. A participant asked him: "Where are these jobs? Tell me; I am ready to work".

Why does the minister have nothing else to offer young people who want to work, who want real jobs, than a so-called reform whose main purpose is to make cuts at their expense? They will be the second-class unemployed. They will have to go into debt to pay their tuition fees, which will double. Why?

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

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, last Friday Statistics Canada released its latest job report. It pointed out that for the first time in six years the jobless rate had dropped to below 10 per cent; in fact it is 9.6 per cent.

Much more important, in the last 11 months 414,000 full time jobs have been created. That is the fastest growing job rate of

any industrial country in the world. The unemployment rate for young people dropped a full two percentage points during the same period of time.

We are living up to our commitment to create jobs. If the hon. member would go back to her own riding and look at it, she would see that the job rate dropped over the past 11 months by 3.1 per cent. It is now below 9 per cent. That is real job creation.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the Minister of Human Resources Development is not pleased that 1,364,000 people are still without work, not counting all those who are looking for work and are not declared as unemployed.

Does the minister admit that if he had wanted to do just one thing to help create jobs, he should have reduced unemployment insurance premiums in September, when he knew that the fund had ten times as much as he wanted when he promised to reduce UI premiums: $2.7 billion compared to $240 million?

Young people would have benefited the most from these new jobs.