Debates of Feb. 22nd, 1994

Interparliamentary Exchanges

[René Canuel, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We learned in La Presse that federal Liberal members forced 15 members of the European Parliament to cancel a series of meetings with Quebec organizations and replace these visits with an official trip to Ottawa and Vancouver, as part of the business of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association.

[The Speaker]

Perhaps the hon. member could rephrase his question, because it does not concern the government's administrative responsibility in that it relates to a non-governmental organization.

[René Canuel, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

My question is this: How does the minister explain that his ambassador in Brussels was also involved in convincing these European parliamentarians to act against their will?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I think that you were right to remind the hon. member that this kind of meeting of parliamentarians is organized by non-governmental organizations. From time to time, parliamentarians come to Canada under these exchange programs.

As part of the visit which took place, it was planned that they would come to Ottawa and go to British Columbia to study the forestry issue which is now the subject of consultations at the highest level.

So the parliamentarians who came here knew very well why they were coming and what their agenda would be. One of these parliamentarians, who probably has dealings with Quebec separatists, made a side trip to Montreal and denigrated this well-established parliamentary procedure of parliamentary exchanges which had been approved in advance. All the others were satisfied, except this black sheep who strayed in Montreal.

[René Canuel, Bloc, Matapédia—Matane, QC]

Mr. Speaker, several people, parliamentarians from over there, told us the same thing. Did other parliamentarians question the minister when they came to see him?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, no doubt there will be other exchanges between the European Parliament and the Parliament of Canada. No doubt these European parliamentarians are quite welcome in all the provinces of Canada, including Quebec.

Those who came here met the Prime Minister and discussed Canadian issues and questions of interest for the European Parliament.

Those who came here also had the opportunity to meet the Deputy Prime Minister, who invited them to accompany her since she was going to the province of Quebec herself. So those who wanted to take advantage of that offer could have done so.

I repeat that only one parliamentarian found that procedure unacceptable. He should have stayed home, since he knew in advance that the trip would take them here, to Ottawa, and to Vancouver, and he should join us for another visit that will include a trip to the province of Quebec.

Forestry

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.

The Canadian government recently funded a multimillion dollar model forest in Mexico. Can the minister assure the House that at the upcoming month-end bilateral conference in

Mexico City the government will not commit further forest research or other forestry funding to our new NAFTA partner?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

The hon. member may be aware that Canada has pioneered the concept of model forests. It is part of our commitment to manage forestry and sustainable development. We think we are very lucky that we have been able to enter into partnerships and transfer this important technology and skill to partners, be it Mexico or the former Soviet Union. I am going to be encouraging my department, the Department of Natural Resources, to enter into further partnerships to ensure that globally we continue our strong commitment to sustainable development in our forest sector.

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

I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker. Mexico is running a budget surplus while we are struggling with a large deficit. Does the minister agree that this government should not be funding forestry projects outside Canada?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, I believe as a government we should work in partnership with neighbours around the world to ensure that our commitment to sustainable development is fulfilled wherever possible.

Justice

[Shaughnessy Cohen, Liberal, Windsor—St. Clair, ON]

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

Over the past few months Canadians have seen several examples of judicial gag orders. These orders have either excluded the media and members of the public entirely from criminal trials or have allowed them to observe but not to report on the proceedings.

Could the minister advise us of any steps which he has planned to review this situation in order to preserve the very important public right to know what is going on in the criminal justice system?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the Criminal Code provides and the general rule in law is that proceedings in court are held in open and the public may watch and see what is going on. The code also provides, and indeed the inherent jurisdiction of the court provides as well, that when the interests of a fair trial for the accused require it, there can be a ban on publication.

As my hon. friend knows from her own many years of distinguished service as counsel in the courts, sometimes these media bans on publication for specific periods of time are very important in the interests of justice, for example in a preliminary inquiry where the evidence is not published, so that the trial itself is not prejudiced or where there is some quarrel about the admissibility of evidence. The court does not want it published so the jury will find out about it before the admissibility of evidence is determined. Obviously there is a balance. The Supreme Court of Canada has two cases under advisement now in which it is considering the balance between the freedom of expression in the charter and media bans. We are going to await those decisions and read them with care. I can assure the hon. member that we will do all things necessary to ensure that the criminal law is administered fairly in this country.

National Arts Centre

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

The government does not seem to be troubled at all about giving $350,000 to the National Arts Centre's director general, after he was fired following a putsch organized by the Mayor of Ottawa. The Minister of Canadian Heritage is washing his hands of the whole affair by invoking the management autonomy of the federal agency.

Does the minister recognize that it is up to the government to determine the working conditions of crown corporation directors, including severance pay, and that in this instance it is the inordinate amount of this severance pay that we find outrageous, just a few hours before a general tax increase for all Canadians?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that the Minister of Canadian Heritage never washes his hands of anything. It does not mean that his hands are dirty.

There is a point that should be made, because not everyone knows it. The National Arts Centre is the only institution of its kind whose director is elected by the board of directors rather than appointed by the government. This situation is unique and can explain many things.

The government and this institution have an arm's-length relationship that I think the hon. member does not challenge and that the government respects. However, the minister has some authority; he has the power to appoint people to the board of directors, to audit its finances and to amend the law if this is deemed necessary. And the problem that was alluded to will, of course, be considered within the measures that the government can take regarding the NAC.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC]

Besides the $350,000 severance pay, Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us whether it is true that the person responsible for the placement agency in the Prime Minister's Office, Mrs. Colle-

nette, is desperately looking for a new job in the federal public service for Mr. DesRochers?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, there are procedures that we follow with respect to agency heads. Whenever there is a vacancy, we make an announcement in the Canada Gazette . We receive names and these names are then taken into consideration.

As we speak, there is in fact a vacancy in a cultural agency of the Canadian government, an announced vacancy that is not yet effective but will become so a little later in the year; at that time, when the position becomes vacant, appropriate procedures will be followed.

Reform Party

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

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

Earlier in question period my colleague, the hon. member for Crowfoot, asked the minister a direct question about what the minister did or did not say concerning the Reform Party. The minister skated around the answer and did not come out with a direct, clear answer.

Will the minister now please answer the question? Did you not say what was alleged?

[The Speaker]

Questions should always be posed to the Speaker. If the hon. member could simply rephrase the question, it would be appreciated.

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, would the minister answer the question now?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do have some concerns about the positions of the Reform Party. I have sat in the House watching them attack immigrants. I have sat in the House and watched one of their members put out a brochure in which he quotes with favour-

[The Speaker]

Order. I would ask the hon. minister if in answering the question perhaps he also could stay with a little more general tone. If he could I would appreciate it.

[Ron Irwin, Liberal, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that the Reform Party does not hate Indians. I do not think anybody in this House hates Indians. But I would like the Reform Party to be a little bit more generous in looking at the aspirations of one of the poorest, most deserving groups of Canadians that we have in our country.

If we cannot together solve the problems of 1.5 million of our citizens, then this nation has no hope.

Lobbyists

[Yves Rocheleau, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

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

In the speech from the throne, the federal government promised to regulate the activities and practices of lobbyists. However, according to a recent CBC report, lobbyists are putting enormous pressure on the government to involve them in the new regulatory process, thereby safeguarding their interests.

Can the government confirm that it intends to table in the coming weeks a bill on the regulating of lobbyists and can it reassure the House that it is not being unduly influenced in the drafting of the new regulations?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the hon. member that we will soon be tabling draft legislation respecting lobbyists and I hope that we can count on his support so as to give some weight to the process of regulating lobbying activities.

Atomic Energy Control Board

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Natural Resources.

In spite of the fact that there has been a constant reduction in the number of licences to hold and handle radioactive material in the country, the staff of the compliance division of AECB has continued to grow.

It is now rumoured that there are plans to open regional compliance offices in Vancouver and Halifax in spite of the fact that there are only 370 licensees in B.C. and less than that in the maritimes.

Can the minister confirm or deny these offices are being planned and, if they are, can she justify it?