Debates of Feb. 16th, 1994

Physician Assisted Suicide

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we were elected to use our best judgment. On a couple of occasions, when I voted on abortion and on capital punishment, I knew I was voting according to my own judgment and it was not very popular in my riding.

We are elected and as members of Parliament we have the privilege to attend committees to discuss matters freely. We then make up our own minds and the people can replace us at election time.

This notion that we should be replaced by polling is revolting to me. We are elected to use our best judgment. If the member thinks she cannot do that, be recalled.

Social And Co-Operative Housing

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on May 5, 1993, the present Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was then in the opposition, stated that the government was violating the basic right of the people to adequate and decent housing and demanded that it "act as soon as possible to save the social housing and co-operative housing program in Canada".

Can the member, now Minister of Foreign Affairs, tell us whether he has acted as strongly as he was advocating less than a year ago and approached his colleague, the Minister of Finance, to that effect?

[David Dingwall, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether the question is appropriate because the subject matter will be dealt with later in the day as an opposition motion.

I wish to inform the hon. member that all my colleagues on this side of the House have immense interest in the subject matter of social housing. We have been working diligently with the Minister of Finance, as we have been working with other levels of governments, both provincial and municipal, to determine new ways of finding additional moneys in order to address the serious problem of social housing.

[The Speaker]

I must tell the hon. member, before she asks her next question, that I allowed the minister to answer the question, even though we are going to have a debate on this this afternoon. Your supplementary, please.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, before the budget preparation is over, can the Minister of Public Works

assure us that he will address the concerns of 1.2 million low income Canadian tenants who are in urgent need of affordable and adequate housing?

[David Dingwall, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the only assurance I can give the hon. member is one of honesty.

The honest assessment of the housing situation is such that we will have to work within the fiscal means of the Government of Canada, just like in the province of Quebec, just like in the province of Ontario, and just like in the province of British Columbia. All governments are wrestling with the issues of social housing.

We are working co-operatively in the federation to try to find additional moneys in co-operation with the Minister of Finance in order to address some of those serious issues which not only affect residents in the province of Quebec, but right across this country.

Tobacco

[Rey D. Pagtakhan, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

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

The key to a successful anti-smoking education campaign will be a blueprint developed by the government in partnership with the health community.

What steps will the minister take to ensure that a nation-wide network of health volunteers, professionals and organizations are actively utilized in the design, implementation and monitoring of such a campaign? What new regulatory framework does the minister envision to give the Government of Canada greater control over cigarette manufacturers and thereby safeguard the health of Canadians at all times?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we tabled a four point plan to combat smuggling. Part of that was a very extensive program to counter smoking especially among young people or populations at risk.

One of the things that happened immediately on the day we announced this four point plan was the proclamation of the act which prohibits the sale of tobacco to young people. This week we have been circulating regulations in order that all vendors and all places where vending machines are in place are advised of the requirements of the act.

We will continue to work diligently at preparing the kind of legislation and regulations that will go a long way in preventing young people from taking up this habit which is terribly bad for their health.

Taxation

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Revenue.

As the minister knows, international companies with subsidiaries in Canada establish prices for transferring goods and services between them. This is known as transfer pricing. Although the finance department is attempting to clarify the rules for establishing these prices there is still the question of tax fairness as profits can be internally adjusted.

This government says it is concerned about increasing its revenues. In order to create more equity in the tax system would the minister commit to investigating tax losses from transfer pricing and report to the House his plan to access that lost revenue?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question. Aspects of tax revenue and what we receive are under constant and careful monitoring by my department and of course by officials of the Department of Finance.

I would like to inform the hon. member that we are pleased she has come forward in this House to point out there may be tax inequities which my colleague the Minister of Finance will address next week in the budget.

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question. By issuing a press release on January 7 urging Canadian taxpayers and companies to encourage compatible transfer pricing methods, the government recognizes there is a problem.

Will the minister commit to developing legislation for transfer pricing to ensure these corporations pay their fair share of taxes?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member, her party and all other parties in the House can be assured that is an objective, to ensure there is fairness not only in this particular area of taxation but in others.

I will give a little more information on this. There are differing theories of how to tax international corporations and at what point. We do have some differences with the Americans in this regard. It is a matter not only for my department and the Department of Finance to work on, but also for other colleagues to deal with the Americans and other countries to make sure we establish a system which is not only fair from a national point of view but is also workable in international economic affairs.

Breast Implants

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. We have learned that the American companies responsible for the problems caused by breast implants are about to pay an amount of $4.75 billion 97 per cent of which will go to American women who represent only 50 per cent of the victims. All other victims, Canadians included, will have to make do with whatever is left.

Could the Minister of Health tell us if she took all necessary measures so that Canadian women have their say in this decision which will concern them most directly?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we are following this very closely. We would like to stress the fact that Canadian women interested in this issue can receive all the information they need simply by contacting the Department of Health.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the minister seems so sure of herself, can she explain why Mark Steven, a lawyer representing an important women's group, declared that women in Canada were being swindled?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we all have a right to our own opinions and I do not want to comment on what others might think. I can only assure you that this question is of utmost importance for us. Personally, the health of Canadian women is one of my priorities, it is an issue close to my heart. I will make sure my department does everything in its power so that Canadian women are treated fairly.

Aboriginal Affairs

[John Duncan, Reform, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

The Canadian Federation of Municipalities represents an important level of government and is especially sensitive to local concerns. The federation recently recommended to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples that municipalities must be a party to the negotiations of land claims and aboriginal self-government.

Will the minister assure the House that local governments will be invited to participate in future negotiations?

[Ron Irwin, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

As a point of law, Mr. Speaker, local municipalities are creatures of the province. However, in the spirit of these negotiations, because municipalities are concerned about zoning where they abut aboriginal lands and economic development where it affects both the municipalities and the First Nations, I put forward, as a statement not as a policy, that where possible municipalities should be invited in an open and transparent mode so they will know exactly what is happening, and they will know exactly where they fit into the mosaic. Generally this has been accepted by many of the mayors I have talked to across the country.

[John Duncan, Reform, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the minister for his answer. I would ask him to insist that Stewart, B.C. be brought into the negotiations in northwestern British Columbia.

[Ron Irwin, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Again, Mr. Speaker, although I do not like the term because I was once a mayor, municipalities are creatures of the provinces, the direct jurisdiction between the province and the municipality.

Any municipality that is interested is invited to listen and to participate from Yukon down through B.C. As a matter of fact I was talking to a B.C. mayor last night as a result of a suggestion from one of the Reform members. I think the system will work. It has to work because we have no other options.

Cfb Moose Jaw

[Georgette Sheridan, Liberal, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

Canadians will remember that in the red book the Liberal Party, now the government, made a commitment to reduce defence spending. This will have an impact on Canadian forces bases and the surrounding communities across the country.

As an MP from Saskatchewan, I am deeply concerned about the future of our bases, particularly our primary base, CFB Moose Jaw, wing 15.

Could the minister inform the House what progress has been made toward achieving fiscal responsibility and efficiency in the area of defence?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her question. I know she is greatly concerned about the future of CFB Moose Jaw.

I have answered the general question many times and I think she has a good understanding of the problems the government is confronted with in dealing with its deficit and in trying to get military spending rationalized.

I cannot give her any assurances today except to say that I am very much aware of the regional problems that may be caused as a result of the closure of any one facility. I am mindful of the difficult situation Saskatchewan has found itself in.

Beyond that the member and the other members of the House will just have to wait a little bit longer until we make our statement.

Official Residences

[Ghislain Lebel, Bloc, Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, recently the National Capital Commission invited all architects in Canada to submit bids for the restoration or renovation of the official residences of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, as well as the summer cottage at Harrington Lake and the residence of the Speaker of the House.

Can the Prime Minister tell the House what amounts will be spent for the renovation of each of these residences?

[David Dingwall, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the minister I would like to take the hon. member's comments as representations and report back to the House at a later stage.

[Ghislain Lebel, Bloc, Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, regarding the residence of the Leader of the Opposition, how can the Minister of Public Works explain that money will be spent to renovate this residence when the Leader of the Opposition has deliberately chosen not to live in it in order to save taxpayers money?