Debates of Feb. 11th, 1994

Employment

[Hugh Hanrahan, Reform, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the unemployment rate is higher today than it was when this government was elected last October.

Will the minister commit to a goal of reducing unemployment by at least 1.5 per cent annually during the mandate of this government?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am quite prepared to make commitments to bring down the unemployment rate if members opposite from the Reform Party will also make the commitment to help us in creating a useful social program and a useful unemployment insurance program that will invest in people.

I suggest that rather than always talking about the deficit on the economic side, they might start talking about the human deficit which is just as important.

Bosnia

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister, and I must say that we thought of it ourselves. We learned this morning that the ceasefire that was negotiated in Bosnia is not being honoured since fighting has apparently resumed in Sarajevo between Serbs and Bosnian Muslims.

Can the Deputy Prime Minister apprise us of the situation that prevails today? Can she confirm that the Serbs are rejecting the ultimatum issued by NATO and can she tell us how Canada intends to react to this situation?

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

Mr. Speaker, the countdown for the ceasefire started at midnight last night. We are told that things are going very well up until now. We are waiting for a chance to get both Bosnian Serbs and Muslims to give up their weapons. Everybody hopes that, with the support of NATO, the ceasefire will be observed within the ten-day ultimatum period.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

As a follow-up, Mr. Speaker, can the Deputy Prime Minister indicate to us whether it is true that the Serbs are not agreeing to the gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers, negotiated by the Commander-in-Chief of the UN forces, General Michael Rose, and does she recognize that this situation calls into question the ceasefire conditions negotiated between Serbs and Muslims?

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

Mr. Speaker, according to the most recent information we have, the ceasefire negotiations are proceeding very smoothly.

Evidently we have 10 days counting down from midnight last night. Our information is that the negotiations are going quite well. We are very optimistic that the ceasefire will be respected. Obviously we will not know for sure until the deadline, which is 10 days from midnight last night.

Tobacco Products

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton—York—Sunbury, NB]

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

Last Tuesday the Prime Minister announced a comprehensive four point plan to deal with the illegal smuggling of tobacco into Canada. To date most of the attention around the issue has focused on the tax reduction part of the plan, particularly in New

Brunswick where I come from because that province has joined with the Government of Canada to use that particular measure.

In the face of that attention it is important for Canadians to be reminded of this government's determination to discourage smoking particularly among young Canadians. I ask the Minister of Health to elaborate on what those plans are.

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, my message has been straight and honest. Smuggling is a severe problem that is undermining health policy in this country. Part of the package announced by the Prime Minister on Tuesday contains some of the toughest anti-smoking measures ever introduced in this country.

I fought hard for this package and I believe in it. The package includes things like the banning of kiddie packs. It includes the $185 million we are going to receive by taxing the excess profits of tobacco manufacturers. It includes an export tax. It includes bringing forward embossed cigarettes. It includes looking at plain packaging. It includes looking at how to control-

[The Speaker]

That is a very inclusive list.

Justice

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of Justice my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

In January 1992 Wayne Sullivan of Prince George, British Columbia, shot and killed his wife. In December 1993 Mr. Sullivan was acquitted on all charges because he was drunk and did not know what he was doing.

Is the government prepared to comment on this occasion about its willingness to change the law so that substance abuse does not constitute an excuse for murder?

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

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of Justice I would certainly like to take the question under consideration. It is a very serious one. Obviously substance abuse is a very serious problem. We will report back to the member as soon as possible.

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for her assurance that something will be done to address this. If she needs help in coming up with some way to resolve this we would be pleased to offer our help.

[Russell MacLellan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to address that question by saying this is a very serious situation which needs a great deal of study.

As the hon. member can appreciate, it is not the role of government to interfere in decisions of the court but we learn from the decisions of the courts. That gives us the information needed to formulate the policy we want to bring forward to Canadians to honour the commitments made in the red book.

I assure the hon. member that this subject is being studied very carefully. Hopefully it will be reflected in policy by the government in the not too distant future.

Member For St. John's West

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we learned yesterday that the member for St. John's West will have to pay back $78,000 to the state following accusations to the effect that public money was used for purposes other than those initially intended.

When pressed to comment on this issue, the Minister of Human Resources Development said:

"I do not think it is a matter of irregularity".

My question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. Given the intention of the Prime Minister to implement a new code of ethics to ensure integrity within his government, does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that this is an unacceptable occurrence which tarnishes the government's image?

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

Mr. Speaker, the case in point was a commercial transaction between two companies that had contracted for training programs from the Department of Human Resources Development. Because of changes in the nature of the operation of the companies, the department felt there was an overpayment of some of the funds.

There were no irregularities. The hon. member is misusing the word. He should be careful with the language he uses. The fact is the repayment schedule has been arranged under the normal procedures of the department. It is a routine procedure that happens all the time.

Many companies throughout Canada are faced with that. As far as the government is concerned the matter has been handled in an honourable way.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how then can the Minister of Human Resources Development explain his sudden about-face since, in less than 24 hours, he first said that this was a routine procedure and then proceeded to demand the money back from the member for St. John's West?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I already said, the money will be paid back. An acceptable arrangement will be made by the department and the companies concerned. There is no problem.

We have said clearly that an arrangement has been made for the moneys to be repaid on a regular basis according to the procedures that have been set out and which apply to hundreds of companies every year. There is nothing different or unusual in this case than what happens across the board throughout this country day after day.

[The Speaker]

The Chair is having a little difficulty. I know hon. members will not want to impute motives. I hope in the formulation of questions that the questions would be of a more general nature in future.

I would hope my hon. colleagues would consider that.

The Environment

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Canadian heritage minister or whoever would like to answer in his absence. Possibly the Minister of Human Resources Development would be interested in this because it deals with jobs.

Since 1978, Sunshine Village Corporation, a world class ski facility in Banff had continuous environmental assessment for Goat's Eye Ski Run and other developments, and final approval in 1992. This development means hundreds of long term construction jobs and meets the red book objectives.

Why did the minister order a FEARO panel review costing at least a million dollars to do again what has been done for the last 15 years?

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

Mr. Speaker, the FEARO panel review will not cost a million dollars. It will cost substantially less than that, hundreds of thousands of dollars less.

The government believes that projects of the nature of Sunshine, which will substantially alter the geographic face of the mountain, deserve and should have an environmental assessment review panel visit the decisions.

We think the cost of not doing an environmental assessment is far greater than the cost of doing an environmental assessment for our children and for their children.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this has been going on for 15 years. It costs nearly a million dollars when one counts the amount of money the entrepreneur and other business people will have to put toward this panel.

In the Globe and Mail it was noticed that the minister was too busy planning Olympic travel arrangements and posh hotel accommodations to discuss issues at a scheduled meeting with amateur athletic representatives.

My question for the minister is: How can unemployed Albertans depending on this environmentally approved development not believe this issue was treated carelessly by the minister?

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

Mr. Speaker, the decision to strike a panel was not taken carelessly believe me. It was taken after much consideration, in particular because of the nature of the mountain.

We have cultural heritage and we also have natural heritage. We want to approve development that is in the best interest of the business people, yes, but what about our children, our grandchildren and their grandchildren?

We have a responsibility to respect the environment. The striking of an environmental assessment review panel meets the objectives of government to ensure that any development, particularly in an area as sensitive as our national mountains should be done in an environmentally sensitive way. That only makes good sense for our kids' future.

[Charles Caccia, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment and Deputy Prime Minister. It has to do with the presence of chlorine and chlorine related substances in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

Does the government intend to regulate chlorine discharges into the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and, if so, will the government urge the United States government to do the same?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member because of his vast environmental background will know that when you are talking about chlorine you are talking about a number of chlorinated compounds. We are looking at the sunsetting of various chlorinated compounds and in that context we would certainly be happy to have his input as the chair of the standing committee on the environment.

We consider it a very serious question. We also recognize that chlorine comes in many forms and that in the past the substance has been used to avoid cholera outbreaks and other very contagious diseases.

We would like to have a balanced approach that can sunset chlorinated compounds when they are toxic and we would certainly love to have his input on this issue.

Quebec City Airport

[Philippe Paré, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. Yesterday, I received copy of a letter addressed by the minister on February 10 to the Official Opposition critic for transport. This document concerns the relocation of the air control unit at the Quebec City airport.

Is the minister aware that the new radar facility of Bernières, which is the link between the Quebec City airport and the regional control centre, does not work between the 241st and the 247th degree, although all of the air traffic between Quebec City and Montreal uses that corridor?