House of Commons Hansard #22 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was project.
Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of energy and natural resources.
As she knows carbon dioxide is a primary cause of climate change and poses a threat as a greenhouse gas.
In view of the fact that there is a firm commitment to reduce carbon dioxide levels by 20 per cent by the year 2005, can the minister indicate to the House when she will be in a position to announce a federal-provincial plan for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, let me thank my colleague, the hon. member for Davenport, for his question on an issue of international concern.
Generally the approach of the government is one of consultation, co-operation and partnership. This is going to be a multi-stakeholder process or strategy that we put in place involving all levels of government, the private sector and individual Canadians.
As the hon. member may be aware, at a historic first meeting in November 1993 federal and provincial ministers of energy and the environment charged their officials with the task of developing a strategy and recommendations to stabilize greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000 and to consider sustainable options for reductions of greenhouse emissions by the year 2005.
It is my expectation that the joint committee will report in November 1994. I am sure at that point the government will be developing further working plans in relation to our commitments.
Herb Grubel Reform Capilano—Howe Sound, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
The minister stated in the House that in the next budget he will reduce the tax allowance for business meals for the sake of greater equity. The best estimates are that this change in the tax code endangers 24,000 jobs in the restaurant industry.
Would the minister please explain to the people of Canada and to the workers in this industry how the likely effects of his proposed tax measures are consistent with his party's campaign slogan jobs, jobs, jobs?
Doug Peters LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's quotation is from a different government.
I would like to confirm that the Minister of Finance made a statement in the House last Friday saying that a budget would be coming down on Tuesday. Such measures as those tax changes that he mentioned will be in the budget, if indeed that is one of the changes.
Herb Grubel Reform Capilano—Howe Sound, BC
Mr. Speaker, I refer to a statement made right here that this would be something that the minister would do in the budget.
I have a supplementary question. Could the minister please inform the House on the number of manyears of work that will be created by the very capital intensive infrastructure program and how many manyears-
The BudgetOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order. I wonder if the hon. member might put his question in a little more general terms. We are getting into specifics.
The BudgetOral Question Period
The Speaker
I do not know that it is so much a matter of being politically correct, it is so that we can understand the question.
Herb Grubel Reform Capilano—Howe Sound, BC
I wonder whether the minister could tell the House the number of man years and woman years of work that will be created by the very capital intensive infrastructure program and how many man years and woman years of work will be lost by the lower spending in the very labour intensive restaurant sector.
Doug Peters LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier the details of the budget will be given on February 22.
The tax changes the hon. member mentions have not been stated in this House. If there are such changes they will be stated in the budget itself and at that time the answer will be obvious.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. In today's newspaper coverage of the meeting of human resources ministers, we learned that the federal government, through its reform of social programs, intends to play a major role in social assistance and deal directly with Canadians, thereby violating provincial jurisdiction in that field.
Will the minister dare to confirm that he is considering abolishing transfers to provinces regarding social assistance and launch a direct payment program for Quebecers and Canadians?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Mr. Speaker, what I can confirm is that yesterday we had a very co-operative, collaborative discussion with all the ministers from the provinces. We agreed to undertake a major review and re-examination of a number of programs that affect Canadians. That was a clear demonstration of how federalism works well when you make it work well and when you want to make it work well.
We look forward to working together at both levels of government to ensure that Canada's social programs effectively meet the needs of all Canadians.
Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, very cordial agreements were also reached at Meech Lake and in Charlottetown between the ministers representing the two levels of government. How can the minister explain that his government, which was elected on the platform of no more references to the constitution, is so blatantly violating provincial jurisdiction?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Mr. Speaker, coming from a member who voted against the Charlottetown agreement it is no wonder she uses that as the model. We intend to do things very differently.
We intend to work in a co-operative way with all Canadians both through the federal and provincial governments. I say to the hon. member that this is not a matter of fighting over turf. This is not a matter of battling over jurisdiction. This is really a matter of how we can co-operate to get the best use of very scarce resources for the benefit of all Canadians.
That is our objective. I am glad to say it was one that was shared by all the provincial ministers at that meeting.
Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
On January 1 the government imposed a 7 per cent payroll tax on all workers and employers in Canada in the form of an increase in unemployment insurance premiums, which all economists agree will kill jobs.
How is this tax increase consistent with the government's job creation objectives described in the red book?
Doug Peters LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
Mr. Speaker, the unemployment insurance premium increase that came into effect in January was a minimum amount. At the same time it was announced by the minister that the premiums would be held at a flat level because of the job creation commitment this government has.
Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, if increasing UI premiums kills jobs, then it follows that reducing UI premiums would create jobs.
When does the minister expect to announce a reduction in UI premiums?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of Finance with whom I have had many interesting and co-operative discussions on this matter, if the hon. member could curb his patience the Minister of Finance will present one of the most important and significant long term documents this House has seen in a long time next Tuesday.
Reg Alcock Liberal Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Like many other members I have had an opportunity to meet with refugees from the former Yugoslavia. These people are in
terrible shape. They have family members scattered all across the former Yugoslavia or in the surrounding countries.
Can the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration tell us what impact the changes he announced recently will have on refugees in general, but in particular refugees from the former Yugoslavia?
Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question and interest in this area.
In addition to our peacekeeping role which is well known to all in this Chamber, Canada has attempted to do its best through immigration and refugee policies to try to alleviate the suffering in that area.
In 1992 the previous government extended a special program whereby individuals from the former republic of Yugoslavia in Canada on visitors visas would be allowed to reunify with their families. We have agreed to extend that program until July of this year. Some 3,000 individuals have taken advantage of that measure. In addition, we have also permitted on a similar family reunification basis for individuals in the former republic of Yugoslavia to apply from there and some 8,500 people have taken advantage of that program.
Also, in the levels that we have announced, 7,300 will be government sponsored refugees. Of that we have increased the number from the former republic of Yugoslavia to 2,400. We have also provided a reserve of 400 that we would not for one moment be shy to use if conditions worsen in that part of the world.
We have every hope that sanity will prevail very quickly.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, in recent days, we witnessed the unfortunate breakdown of trade negotiations between the United States and Japan. If the verbal escalation degenerates into a real trade war between those two countries, Quebec and Canada will likely be adversely affected.
My question is directed to the Minister for International Trade. Is the minister not concerned by the adverse effect this conflict could have for Quebec and Canada?
Roy MacLaren LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, throughout the period of negotiation between the United States and Japan we have made consistent and frequent interventions with both countries. This was done to ensure that any trade measures they contemplate on a bilateral level do not sideswipe other GATT members, in other words, that the principle of most favoured nation treatment be preserved in any such arrangements.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister for International Trade agrees with our views.
My supplementary question is for the Prime Minister. Would it not be desirable for the Prime Minister to personally inform the President of the United States of Canada's interests and concerns?
Roy MacLaren LiberalMinister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, the discussions to which the hon. member refers have been broken off, as he is probably aware, and the United States is acting unilaterally in the protection of what it sees as its trade interests. There is no reason for the Prime Minister of Canada to intervene in that situation.
The concern we had was centred on whether the United States and Japan would agree, which they have not, upon measures that could have affected Canadian trade interests. That has not happened.