Debates of Feb. 7th, 1994

Cigarette Smuggling

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

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

It is obvious that the Ontario government does not agree with the federal government's proposal to lower taxes on cigarettes to curb smuggling. The Premier of Ontario has stated that, in his opinion, smuggling could easily be thwarted if the federal government imposed a special export tax on cigarettes manufactured in Canada.

Does the revenue minister share the Ontario premier's opinion regarding the imposition of an export tax on Canadian cigarettes?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that the Ontario premier has made statements on this matter and that he has proposed an export tax on Canadian cigarettes, but I do not agree with him on this point.

This alone would not solve our current smuggling problem. We need something much more effective than what the premier has proposed, and I am sure that we will have more details on this tomorrow, as the Prime Minister just said.

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, does the revenue minister not agree that the refusal by the Ontario government to lower its taxes on cigarettes would make his anti-smuggling plan totally ineffective, particularly in Ontario and perhaps even in Western Canada?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, it is true that in hypothetical situations, we can have hypothetical answers to hypothetical problems. However, we still do not know what we will do. We do not know all the steps the government will take, that will be announced by the Prime Minister tomorrow. As to what can happen at the border between Ontario and Quebec, I cannot give a good answer because it is a hypothetical situation.

Indian Affairs

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question has been inspired by Dave and Brenda Fountain of Burns Lake, B.C. who are currently being challenged on a piece of duly deeded private property they own.

My question is for the Prime Minister. In the throne speech, his government committed to the forging of a new partnership with aboriginal people, specifically in respect to the implementation of their inherent right to self-government.

Will the Prime Minister commit to all Canadians that his government's definition of aboriginal self-government does not mean a self-government that would exist outside the federal and provincial laws that all Canadians are currently obliged to abide by?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I said many times that the situation with regard to Indian land is that it is all part of Canada. They have to abide by the legal system in Canada when we sign agreements. The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is trying to find a way to give the authority to the native people to be able to make their own decisions that affect themselves, so they can find a proper place in Canadian society.

That is what he is negotiating at this time, but all within the fact that they are within a sovereign nation that is Canada.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I commend the efforts of the Prime Minister in his search for the meaning of aboriginal self-government.

I would like to ask the Prime Minister if at this time his government defines aboriginal self-government as an order of government that would exist outside federal and provincial jurisdiction or as a level of government that would exist within and under federal or provincial jurisdiction?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

The hon. member should know that Indian reserves come under federal jurisdiction within a province. The Indian land is in the name, in the trust of the federal crown.

Therefore we already have a system that sometimes, like passing a road through an Indian reserve, has to be done by the federal government, not by a provincial government. It is the law of the land following the signing of the treaties with the natives in Canada.

Cigarette Smuggling

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after hesitating for several weeks, the government finally told Canadians that it will unveil its action plan against cigarette smuggling this week.

In the context of the health ministers conference, will the minister ensure that a comprehensive strategy to discourage tobacco consumption will be introduced as part of that action plan?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago the Prime Minister said that he would make an announcement on this issue tomorrow.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, will the minister undertake to provide the necessary funding to ensure an increased and effective control of the sale of cigarettes in schools?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am always prepared to co-operate with my provincial counterparts. Schools are under provincial jurisdiction. Therefore I will have to meet with my provincial counterparts before coming up with a concrete plan.

Labour Dispute

[David Iftody, Liberal, Provencher, MB]

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

The shutdown of the port of Vancouver, Canada's largest seaport, has cut off millions of dollars of commodity exports including hundreds of millions of dollars of grain, potash and forestry products.

Now that the mediated talks have broken off, could the minister give the House an undertaking as to what specific measures the government is prepared to take to guarantee that Canadian grain exports will reach their markets and that the integrity of our international trade position is not hindered?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to answer the question of the hon. member.

As the House knows, over the past week or 10 days we have been encouraging the parties to the dispute to exercise their rights and obligations under collective bargaining to reach an agreement. In the past several days we have offered the mediation services of the federal government to do that. Unfortunately as of yesterday the talks once again broke down and the sides were unable to come to any agreement that would allow them to proceed with a new contract.

The assessment we made is that the impact of this work stoppage is now reaching beyond the parties themselves. It is having a very serious impact on the economy generally; certainly the grain economy of western Canada and the economy of the port of Vancouver.

Consequently notice will be placed on the Order Paper today of the government's intention to introduce measures to end the work stoppage and bring about a resumption of port operations.

I would ask for the co-operation of all members of the House for quick passage of this legislation.

Exports

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the hon. minister for his announcement in the House. My question relates to the same subject.

I would like to ask the Minister of Human Resources Development if he is willing to bring reliability to Canada's export commitments by designating grain handling as an essential service so that we do not have to keep on introducing special legislation to deal with the situation Parliament after Parliament, session after session?

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

Mr. Speaker, I say to the hon. member that the most immediate and important requirement is to end the work stoppage problem at the port of Vancouver. There are many other questions related to labour matters and I hope that we will providing, during the course of the next several months, an opportunity for this House to discuss them and to come to grips with them.

The important thing right now is to get the port of Vancouver back to work, the grain moving and the other commodities moving. I would invite the hon. member and his party, along with others in the House, to concentrate and focus their efforts on that singular task.

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, indeed we will be co-operating with the government to try to bring an end to this work stoppage.

However, in the meantime there have been severe financial losses by many Canadian exporters, including agriculture producers. I am wondering if the government has any intention of covering some of the costs incurred by producers through high demurrage costs that are passed on to Canadian exporters.

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

Mr. Speaker, I suppose we are prepared to take under advisement the hon. member's proposal if at the same time he is prepared to show what he would do about the deficit in the meantime. I would think that we should try to get the Reform Party to be able to speak with some consistency on these matters.

Foreign Affairs

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister.

A report from the U.S. State Department, which referred to so-called problems experienced by anglophones and allophones in Quebec has caused considerable consternation among the Quebec public. The report is critical of Bill 86, especially where it affects access to English schools. However, the Quebec Minister of international affairs was strongly critical of this report and said, according to La Presse, that legislation to protect the French fact in Quebec did not constitute a violation of human rights.

Can the Prime Minister tell us whether his government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, intends to lodge an official protest with the U.S. ambassador regarding the contents of a report that is very damaging to the reputation of Quebec and, hence, that of Canada as well?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is not in the House today, I would say that the Canadian government does not make a habit of commenting on documents originating from the foreign affairs departments of other countries. It is not in keeping with international custom.

I may add as a general comment that I myself did not read the report by the U.S. State Department, but from what I have heard it was drafted before certain amendments were made to Quebec's legislation, which means that today, considering the rules of international courtesy and the scope of the comments made by the State Department, there is no good reason for making representations to the U.S. government.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ciaccia felt he had to make a strong protest and ask the federal government, or at least he says he will in La Presse , to support him in that endeavour.

Therefore, does the federal government refuse to close ranks with Quebec and lodge a strong protest against these comments which are very damaging to Quebec?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that we should take the U.S. government's reports at face value. I am not sure they are extremely damaging to Quebec. Quebec makes its own decisions, and that is fine with me.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the hon. Minister of National Defence. As we have already heard in this House this afternoon members on both sides of the House, indeed all Canadians, were appalled by the bombing of the Sarajevo marketplace on Saturday.

Can the minister inform this House what options the government is considering as a suitable response.

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

Mr. Speaker, I think the Prime Minister has addressed that question.

There are meetings going on in Brussels today and will be in the next couple of days.

As far as the Canadian government is concerned we are most interested and concerned that the Canadian troops in Bosnia are not put at undue risk by any escalation action that may occur as a result of these discussions that are going on.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Can the minister tell the House what the government's position is on air strikes.