House of Commons Hansard #20 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was general.
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that the decision made a while ago to change the air control system, not only in Quebec City, but also in Halifax and in several other cities across Canada, is aimed at ensuring the safety of those who rely on theses navigation systems.
There is no doubt in my mind that the transfer of the air control unit from Quebec City to Montreal will not jeopardize safety.
Philippe Paré Bloc Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary, even though the minister's answer is absolutely unsatisfactory. How can the minister claim that his civil servants' decision is based on a recommendation of the U.S. federal air administration, when in fact the Sypher-Mueller report prepared by American experts for his department recommends not only that the Quebec City and North Bay facilities remain open, but that they be expanded?
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I have indicated to my colleague on a number of occasions when this question has been raised that it is the intention of the department to ensure that the same criteria applies based on the same levels of aircraft movement and all the security aspects that are essential to safe air navigation in this country.
The situation in Quebec City with respect to the control terminal is being assessed in exactly the same light as what took place at Halifax when air control was moved to Moncton, the closing of North Bay, and the reassessment of all of those units across the country.
The one thing I want to emphasize to my colleague is that we will deal with all of these decisions in a fair, equitable way and everyone will be treated in exactly the same way which is I am sure what my colleague would expect.
John Williams Reform St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
The accounting firm of Ernst & Young has been hired by the finance department to study the department's longer term deficit forecasts. They are to examine why the department's forecasts over the years have been so inaccurate and what can be done about this. Could the Minister of Finance tell the House why he has chosen an outside accounting firm as opposed to having the office of the Auditor General study the problems of the Department of Finance, and could he tell the House how much the study will cost?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development -Quebec
Mr. Speaker, together with the officials of the Department of Finance we commissioned this study which was awarded in open competition by a steering committee that included the Auditor General as a member. We recognized that the effects of disinflation, the disconnection between growth and job creation and therefore government revenues, had created a new situation, a new set of parameters, which economists across the country were having a great deal of difficulty dealing with.
As a result we commissioned the study. We think it is really going to be a landmark in economic forecasting within this country. The details of the costs of that will be made available in due course.
John Williams Reform St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, in order to save taxpayers' money, would the minister be willing to support an amendment to the Auditor General Act that would empower his office to conduct the review of the revenue estimates?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development -Quebec
Mr. Speaker, at the time it was done there were extensive discussions held with the Auditor General's department. I participated in those discussions myself. It was decided by all parties that given the person power available, the expertise required, the absolute necessity of getting at this task, and prior experience, that this would be by far the best course of action to take and that is why we took it.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, like every Friday morning, I am pleased to put a question to the Minister of Industry.
Research and development support programs are in a real mess. In its February 4 edition, the Financial Post reported that, according to some people, it is impossible for businesses, and especially small and medium-sized businesses, to make sense of these programs without the help of experts in that field. The fact that we have lapsed votes every year just goes to prove my point.
Will the minister undertake to act immediately and to make considerable efforts in order to improve the accessibility and efficiency of these research support programs and to help small businesses to make full use of them?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his Friday question.
Encouraging small and medium-sized businesses to be more active in the research and development area is one very important element of our Canadian economy strategy.
As the hon. member knows, only 0.4 per cent of all Canadian businesses are involved in research and development, and very few of those are small and medium-sized businesses. The key element of our strategy is to find ways to help small businesses in that area.
Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State responsible for women's issues.
It has come to my attention that taxpayers are spending $25,000 on a management training course for the president of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women just 11 months before her term expires and just two months after the council laid off other staff.
Does the minister feel that the expenditure is appropriate and have provisions been made for repayment to the taxpayers for this free education program?
Sheila Finestone LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
Mr. Speaker, it is a normal practice in the world of business, whether it is the business of the House, or the business of the country, or business in the private sector, to invest in the growth and development of our human resources.
That is exactly what was undertaken. Miss Simms is a very fine example of good leadership and potential for the growth and development of women's interests as well as business interests around this country. She has served well and will continue to contribute to the growth and development of our country.
John O'Reilly Liberal Victoria—Haliburton, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture or, in his absence, the deputy minister. The recent settlement of the GATT agreement may necessitate some changes in the supply management system for the Canadian dairy, egg and poultry sectors.
Could the minister tell the House what is being done to ensure the future and continued success of these important Canadian industries?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his continued commitment and interest in the future of the agri-food industry in Canada. I would remind the House of the continued commitment of this government to orderly marketing in the supply management sectors in Canadian agriculture, the dairy, egg and poultry sectors.
In order to ensure this the minister has put in place a task force to meet with and to talk to all sectors of the industry, producers and primary producers, processors, hotel and restaurant wholesalers, retailers and right to the consumer to ask them about issues they feel need to be addressed in order to take the supply management industries into the next trading regime.
That task force is well on its way. It is ongoing. I can assure the House that we will not be repeating any of the good work that has been done. However we are working hard to make sure we are ready in the industry and in the country for July 1, 1995 when the new GATT rules come into effect.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is inspired by tens of thousands of small business operators who as a result of the previous government's-
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, I cannot name all of them. Because of the previous government's fiscal and monetary policy they were actually forced into the underground economy as a way to survive in business.
My question to the Minister of Finance or the Deputy Prime Minister is considering that this is a new government promising a whole set of new initiatives, is the government considering specific steps that would reach out to those small business operators particularly and independents that have been forced to operate in the underground economy and who now wish to come above ground and participate on the level playing field with their competitors across the country?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development -Quebec
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would tell the hon. member and through him the hundreds of thousands of small businesses who have written to him that we certainly do agree with his characterization of the activities of the previous government and the effect its policies had on the growth of the underground economy.
I can assure him that as was set out in the red book and was a major part of our campaign, the growth of small and medium sized business in this country and its ability to create jobs remains at the forefront of our activities. I will say that will be reflected obviously in the fiscal and monetary and budgetary considerations of this government.
Sheila Finestone LiberalSecretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.
Canadians and other freedom loving countries are about to celebrate the end or the beginning of the end of a horrible nightmare of six years of world war in Europe when in June the 50th anniversary of D-Day is going to be celebrated and we will recall the loss of Canadian lives. More particularly when I think of Adolf Hitler's ideology, his obsession that brought chaos to Europe, death to millions of my people, death to millions of other people, I find it absolutely reprehensible to think that his name would come into question in this House.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. I am sure the minister would consider making her statement at the time of statements as opposed to a point of order. The Chair is hard pressed to find a point of order there.
I would encourage the minister to consider that as another avenue.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, during Question Period, my colleague for Anjou-Rivières-des-Prairies put a question to the Minister of Human Resources Development. After the question had been answered, Mr. Speaker, you rose to say that the opposition should choose the wording of its questions carefully. I will tell you very frankly that I do not understand the meaning of this statement for the following reasons: First, the official opposition is very aware of its responsibilities, we know that questions should use the right words and be respectful of the persons involved.
The hon. member for Anjou-Rivière-des-Prairies had chosen his words particularly well to avoid implicating a person who, from what we know, is not, at this stage, accused of any criminal act or other wrongdoing.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to you that my colleague only talked of using public funds for purposes other that the ones originally stated. My colleague never used words like fraud, theft, embezzlement or anything like that. He simply asked what was happening to publics funds used in a way not originally intended. If it had not been so, clearly the hon. member would not have to repay. So we must conclude that the wording of the question was quite proper.
I would not want, Mr. Speaker, translation problems or things like that to lead you to believe that the opposition is using unparliamentary language or improper terms. I believe our rules protect the questions as well as the answers. The choice of words or expressions is ours. We are used to abide by that and we are very responsible in our choice of words. This is what I wanted to point out to you, Mr. Speaker.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
I thank the hon. member for Roberval for his comments. Mine were merely intended as a gentle warning, because I do not want and I know the House does not want us to cross this line.
I will read over what was said, and if, in the final instance, I should not have interrupted at that point, I will get back to the hon. member. My point is simply that we must choose our words carefully. If there was a misunderstanding on my part, I will get back to the hon. member and let him know. Thank you for your comments.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you for taking the trouble to consider this matter. I am sure that we will reach an understanding and that we agree on the principles involved.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask another question, on another matter, this time speaking as the House Leader for the Official Opposition. I would like to ask what happened in the process of selecting questions for Question Period? What is the Chair's procedure? I noticed that contrary to custom, the Official Opposition was deprived of a number of questions and that this week, a number of independent members linked to one political group in particular were entitled to more questions than would normally be the case.
I want to ask the Chair whether this was dictated by the circumstances this week or did the Chair decide to change the rules of the game, or will we get back to normal next week?
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
The Chair never decides unilaterally to change the rules of the game. As you know, we do our utmost to recognize all members who wish to ask questions.
If there seemed to be an imbalance during the last few weeks, that is because sometimes we have days that are a bit longer and I can recognize members who wish to ask questions.
I will review what happened this week and during the past month, and we will discuss the matter with the House Leaders.
Albina Guarnieri LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The hon. member for Wild Rose, in his effort to malign the Minister of Canadian Heritage, referred to a Globe and Mail article which is acknowledged by all parties involved to have been ill researched and largely inaccurate. I would hope the hon. member would certainly retract his comments.