House of Commons Hansard #25 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was gpt.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, this is a true meeting of the minds, since I have made arrangements to table a Private Member's bill. In fact, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister to support it, since she made the suggestion herself. In fact, I see this as a sign that the government is willing to support this initiative.
I would also like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister for assurances that when the next budget is brought down on Tuesday, appropriate action will be taken to stop this discrimination.
Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment
Of course, Mr. Speaker, and I think the hon. member of the Bloc should also realize that the Canada Labour Code affects the employees of about 10 per cent of the companies across this country.
I suggest that before the Bloc Quebecois goes ahead with this bill, it would be a good idea to check with the Quebec government and make sure there is no conflict between federal and provincial legislation. I assume he will do so before tabling his bill. Once that is done, his bill will be considered.
John Harvard Liberal Winnipeg—St. James, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.
A vibrant aerospace industry exists in my riding of Winnipeg St. James. Companies such as Bristol, Standard Aero, Boeing and Paramax have benefited a lot from government and private contracts. However, the industry suffered setbacks when, a few years back, the CF-18 contract was not awarded to Bristol and more recently with the cancellation of the EH-101 helicopter contract.
Can the minister inform the House what his department is planning to do to maintain a strong aerospace industry in my riding of Winnipeg St. James and in fact in the whole city of Winnipeg?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, first of all let me say that we agree that the strength and the health of the Canadian aerospace industry are of vital importance. This is a niche in which Canada has been very successful. In terms of sales, our aerospace industry is fifth in the world.
I am very well aware, as the member has made me aware, of the fact that there are a number of companies that are very important in the aerospace sector in the Winnipeg region. Bristol Aerospace is expected to win a very large contract very shortly from the U.S. government. Boeing expects to play an important role in the 737-X program.
The fundamental means of providing support to the aerospace industry, apart from the general policy framework that we have, is the defence industry's productivity program. That will be the cornerstone as promised in the red book of our defence conversion initiatives. We expect that we can continue to use that program as a very vital tool-most of its contributions are repayable-to ensure that the Canadian aerospace industry in Winnipeg and in the rest of Canada continues to be very competitive in the world.
Margaret Bridgman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
At present the United States standards for blood collection exceed those of Canada. The Canadian Red Cross recently decided to meet the U.S. standards so that Canadian blood can continue to be sent to American blood plasma extraction facilities.
Will the minister commit to raising Canadian blood collection standards to meet those of the United States?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, let me assure the hon. member that our standards for blood collection are certainly not inferior to those of the U.S.
Our standards are different and in some instances they may even be superior because basically we are dealing with very different blood collection systems. In the U.S. it is a fee and for profit type of system whereas ours is a voluntary system.
I believe we will continue to make sure that our blood collection systems are extremely safe.
Margaret Bridgman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, statements have been recently made to the Krever commission indicating that the Canadian Red Cross centres are supposed to be inspected every two years, but in fact have not been inspected for at least five.
Why does the minister's department not enforce its own inspection regulations?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, since I have become the Minister of Health I have instructed my officials to complete a total inspection of all 17 blood collection centres in Canada before the end of March 1994, that is before the end of this current fiscal year.
I have also instructed my officials to completely inspect all 17 facilities every year from now on. I believe the inspection will be completed as instructed by the end of March.
Jean-Guy Chrétien Bloc Frontenac, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of the Environment. Yesterday, the International Joint Commission presented its biannual report on the water quality of the Great Lakes. It lists a series of catastrophic consequences for human health. Birth defects in newborns, lower sperm count, an increased incidence of breast cancer, and a decreased learning capacity among school age children are all cases in point.
In view of this report, does the government intend to ban the dumping of chlorine in the Great Lakes by Canadian industries?
Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether my hon. colleague had a chance to read the report which says, on page seven I think, that the use of chlorine should not be banned until the economic impact of such a decision is examined. If he wants, I can send him a copy.
Jean-Guy Chrétien Bloc Frontenac, QC
Mr. Speaker, this same commission has been making roughly the same kind of recommendations since 1978.
Why is it that the minister refuses to commit herself to following through with the recommendations of a commission which provides for Quebec's participation in the agreement on the Great Lakes water quality, while her own department acknowledges that 40 per cent of the toxic load of the St. Lawrence River originates in the Great Lakes?
Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to point out that in the 100 days that we have been in office we have begun a process to abolish a number of toxins. I think it is important to point out that this is not the first report of the IJC. In fact, I personally made a presentation to the IJC several years ago dealing with the issues specifically of prenatal problems and the problems of breast cancer.
I think it is significant that this particular report is receiving a tremendous amount of attention because it is the first time that there is a relationship between the toxins and the problem of spermatozoa. We have known for many years that there are some serious problems.
The report also points out that the level of toxicity took 50 years to achieve. The report further underlines that there is no immediate call by the IJC for a ban on chlorine. In fact, the IJC report is very specific that any eventual chlorine ban should only be precipitated by a serious study of the effect on the basin of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.
We are prepared to table within the next four to six months a list of timetables and schedules for the sunsetting of all problem chemicals including the possibility of sunsetting organo-chlorines.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General.
Through research I have to this date come up with the names of 23 first-degree killers who were paroled and then went on to kill 32 more people while on parole. This list is certainly not all the examples but it is a sample of the last five to six years that I know of.
Will the minister agree that our present parole system and parole board is incompetent and that automatic parole should be stopped until this incompetence is addressed?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has raised an important concern. I do not think there is automatic parole. In any event, it is the intention of this government to have the parole system operate in a way that puts security of the public as a major priority.
I would be happy to have the hon. member's research to see if it will help us to achieve our Liberal government objective.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
A supplementary, Mr. Speaker.
Will the minister agree that a major contributor to this incompetence is based on patronage appointments rather than stringent criteria that checks the qualifications of such a board?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, it is the intention of this government that appointments to the parole board will be based primarily on merit and competence.
I look forward to having the support of the hon. member and his party for this approach.
Pat O'Brien Liberal London—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture.
In view of the fact that Canada's standards of safety in the production of food are considerably higher than those of most nations, including the United States of America, will the minister tell us when we can look forward to country of origin labelling for all food products so that Canadians might be more aware of the source of the food they both purchase and consume?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, with the hon. member and all Canadians, I am very proud of the standards that we have in this country in terms of health, safety and the quality of our agricultural production.
The question of country of origin labelling is a subject that I am very interested in pursuing. I thank the hon. member for raising the issue.
The issue has implications of course for the private sector and for the provinces. It also has certain trade implications in terms of our obligations with respect to the new GATT and GATT rules. With those and some other cautions in mind, I would be very happy indeed to pursue the principle of this type of labelling in the Canadian national interest.
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. The Junior Bar Association of Montreal is calling on the Canadian government to amend the Criminal Code so as to criminalize acts of pedophilia committed abroad by Canadian nationals. Certain European countries have recently moved to criminalize acts of pedophilia committed abroad.
My question is as follows: Does the government intend to follow up on the request from the Junior Bar Association of Montreal to criminalize acts of pedophilia committed abroad by Canadians and if so, will the Deputy Prime Minister undertake to table a bill on this matter before the House rises in June?
Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, of course we take this request from the Junior Bar Association of Montreal very seriously. Pedophilia is repugnant, regardless of where it happens. If Canadian tourists are travelling abroad to take advantage of pedophile networks, as is the case in certain countries, then clearly the Minister of Justice will be looking into the matter raised by the hon. member. I can already tell her that the Liberal caucus has brought this matter to the minister's attention and I am confident that he will deal with it as soon as possible.
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral Bloc Laval Centre, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the Deputy Prime Minister will do her best to ensure that appropriate draft legislation is indeed tabled.
Nevertheless, I would like to ask a supplementary question. Can the Deputy Prime Minister give us her assurance that this bill will contain provisions to deal with those who organize what are commonly referred to as sex tours?
Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister of Justice is already aware of these very difficult and repugnant issues. I am confident that once he has considered what steps the Canadian government can take to prevent the growth of this kind of tourism-and I hesitate even to call this tourism because it involves disgusting acts-the Minister of Justice will do his utmost to ensure that these kinds of things do not happen here in Canada or anywhere else in the world.
Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.
On February 16, 1994, BCTV News carried an interview with the Hartwick family of Surrey, B.C. Bonnie Hartwick wants her son, Mike, charged with auto theft after being caught driving a stolen vehicle. Mike is apparently part of a juvenile car theft ring that has stolen more than 100 cars in the last four months. The authorities could not oblige Mike's mother, Bonnie, because Mike is only 10 years old.
I ask the Deputy Prime Minister this: Will this government lower the age limits of the Young Offenders Act to make young offenders accountable for their criminal activity?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to answer the hon. member's question as Acting Minister of Justice.
I too heard the press report on the radio and found it quite disturbing. I would be very happy to draw her representation to the attention of the Minister of Justice because I know that he and his department are actively reviewing the Young Offenders Act.
Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question.
During the interview, 10-year old Mike stated that he was likely to continue stealing cars because it was fun. He knows that the police cannot charge him. Can the minister explain how this behaviour and attitude is in the best interests of either society or young Mike?