Debates of March 15th, 1994

The Late Dave McComb

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a very sad note on the passing of one of my councillors, Dave McComb.

I still call him my councillor even after being away from the mayor's chair for four months in this House.

Perhaps I can best sum up Dave's accomplishments and his contributions to my community by saying that he gave to politics, as he gave to play and to any other purpose he pursued, a warm integrity, a graciousness of spirit, a kindling touch which enriched all things he did for the lives of the people in our community.

He proved, and that proof is much needed, that all communities need vital individuals and all individuals are most vital when they serve their communities.

I am sure that members will join with me in offering his wife, Nancy, and his family our heartfelt condolences as they are bereaved by his death.

Linguistic Minorities

[Jean H. Leroux, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, Quebec anglophones enjoy rights they are guaranteed under the British North America Act. Quebec has always respected the rights of its minorities.

For the benefit of the members of this House and Canadians who are watching, I would like to name some of the benefits

enjoyed by the anglophone community in Quebec. First of all, Montreal, where most of the anglophone population lives, has a complete network of hospitals that function in English. They also have two major universities in Montreal-McGill and Concordia-and Bishop's University in the Eastern Townships. They have their own school system at the primary, secondary and college level, entirely subsidized by Quebec.

Quebec has always treated its minorities well, because we know what it means to be a minority, Mr. Speaker. I invite all members from the other provinces to come and visit Quebec to see for themselves.

Breast Cancer

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it has come to light that a Montreal researcher fabricated information that has been used to shape treatment of breast cancer for the past decade. The same researcher also used patients who had not consented to participate in the study. We hear today that the Quebec Medical Association may have known about this for as much as three years.

The research determined that lumpectomies save just as many lives as the removal of the entire breast, and that the drug Tamoxifen can in some cases prevent the return of breast cancer.

Can women be certain that the conclusions from this study are valid?

How could such a thing happen? Last November the government received the final report of the Royal Commission on New Reproductive Technologies. The report emphatically stated that the unethical use of knowledge is not permitted. This applies equally to all areas of medicine.

I strongly urge the government to investigate this serious incident to ensure the medical safety of women all across this country.

Port Of Halifax

[Ron MacDonald, Liberal, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to draw the attention of the House to the situation at the port of Halifax.

Atlantic Container Lines was ready to guarantee 8,000 new containers per year of cargo bound for Chicago, simply because the port of Halifax provides the most competitive entry location for midwestern U.S. cargo.

The Halifax Port Corporation and the longshoremen's union both agreed on major cuts in handling fees and surcharges to attract this business and keep it there. However, last week the Maritime Employers Association, a board dominated by interests competing with Halifax, voted to reject the union's offer to lower benefits. Only after public outcry did the board decide to accept a revised offer.

However, I remain astounded that any supposedly responsible employer's group could have considered rejecting an offer of concessions from its union, an offer of lowering operating costs and increased competitiveness.

For now, the port of Halifax may have escaped permanent damage, but this incident forces me to question the system through which the port of Halifax can be hampered in its drive for success by a board made up of its competitors.

World Consumer Rights Day

[Pat O'Brien, Liberal, London—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is World Consumer Rights Day, declared by the International Organization of Consumer Unions.

Throughout the world consumers are marking this event by taking part in activities stressing their contributions to the marketplace in our society. Consumers have a vital role to play in maintaining the wealth and competitiveness of this country; over 60 per cent of Canada's GDP is attributed to consumer demand.

Consumers' voices should be heard and their rights recognized. The IOCU defines eight basic rights of consumers as given in the UN guidelines: the right to satisfaction of basic needs, the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose, the right to be heard, the right to redress, the right to consumer education, and the right to a healthy environment.

We Canadians are fortunate that many of our basic rights as consumers are already acknowledged. We have good consumer protection legislation in place and businesses that for the most part are concerned with producing high quality goods and services using fair marketing practices.

Consumers in prosperous countries such as Canada are lucky to be able to choose from a wide variety of goods and services.

Immigration

[Tony Ianno, Liberal, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the Toronto Star of Monday, March 14 I read about a visit by two members of the Reform Party to my riding of Trinity-Spadina. In their travels they visited Chinatown and Kensington Market where they felt they would encounter Canadians of origins other than English and French who would share with them their opinions of slashing immigration to Canada.

In the process they discovered that the majority of those with whom they spoke looked favourably on the government's immigration policy. One respondent business person, Mr. Danny Tran, a recent immigrant who creates jobs himself, said that more immigrants meant more jobs.

Because of these responses the title of the article was "Reformers Get An Education". To no one's surprise, least of all my own, they discovered that the multicultural mix of Trinity-Spadina positively contributes to the dynamic nature of Toronto.

If the hon. members had ventured around the corner to the Alexander Park Community Housing complex, they would have also learned of how three years ago a determined group of residents, multicultural in character, led by Mr. Sonny Atkinson, banded together and drove out the drug problem.

In conclusion, I would like to extend an invitation to all Canadians to visit Trinity-Spadina to discover these well kept secrets of the success of multiculturalism. In particular, however, I would like to extend an invitation to more of the members of the Reform Party so that they too may benefit from these lessons.

Forum De La Solidarité Sociale Du Québec

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, an unprecedented event took place Saturday in Montreal, namely the Forum de la solidarité sociale du Québec. For the first time ever, over one thousand representatives of citizen and community groups as diverse as the Assemblée des évêques and unions from all regions gathered together to embrace a common goal and to wage war on unemployment and poverty through joint social action.

After painting an alarming picture of poverty in Quebec, the forum levelled the blame squarely at the federal government's anti-inflation policy which has led to a 50 per cent increase in the federal debt, prompting governments to slash social programs every further.

Above all, forum participants agreed on the need to take action so that Quebec stands solidly behind a job creation policy that encompasses job sharing, a reaffirmation of the role of the state, taxation reform, maintenance of social programs and a broadening of democracy.

This approach represents hope for Quebec.

Canadian Curling Championship

[Paul Forseth, Reform, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to congratulate Rick Folk and his B.C. rink for capturing Canada's highest prize in men's curling.

After a week of stiff competition from other provincial rinks, Folk duelled Ontario's Russ Howard to an eight to five win in the Briar in Red Deer, Alberta on Sunday. Not since Lyall Dagg 30 years ago in 1964 has British Columbia captured the Canadian Curling Championship.

I am sure that all of my colleagues from British Columbia will join with me in congratulating B.C. skip Rick Folk and his rink of Gerry Richard, Bert Gretzinger and Pat Ryan.

We wish them the best as they will now represent Canada at the World Curling Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany.

Canadian Medical Hall Of Fame

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, London West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the establishment of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame was announced in November 1993 in London, Ontario and the induction of the first laureates will take place May 27, 1994 in London.

Housed in London's new convention centre and sponsored by the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame will provide an enduring tribute that will publicize the accomplishments of Canadian men and women who have made important contributions to the understanding of disease and the advancement of health everywhere.

Laureates inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame will be selected annually in the categories of clinical medicine, basic medical research and applied medical research.

Canadians should be proud of the establishment of the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, an important national initiative celebrating discovery and innovation in medical science.

Human Rights

[Anna Terrana, Liberal, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a number of Vancouver East constituents have written to ask for the Canadian government's intervention in a very serious infringement of human rights.

Twelve Buddhist nuns in Tibet have recently been sentenced to prison terms for participating in a demonstration to which there are no witnesses. A 15-year old girl is among those arrested. Those women are going to prison without proper trial and are in grave danger of torture and possibly death.

My constituents appeal to the Canadian government to use its authority and ask for the immediate and unconditional release of these women and for international monitoring of the situation in Tibet.

The situation is urgent and for the sake of such people human rights must be protected.

Job Creation

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. Yesterday in this House, the Prime Minister denied the possibility that his Minister of Finance would propose at the Detroit summit a tax credit for businesses that create jobs, and I quote:

I do not think that the Minister of Finance will present in Detroit a proposal on Canadian taxation.

As soon as the G-7 summit opened yesterday in Detroit, about the same time that the Prime Minister said what I just quoted, the Minister of Finance made such a proposal to his G-7 partners.

How can the Prime Minister reconcile his statement with the proposal that his Minister of Finance presented to his G-7 partners at the same time yesterday?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance is meeting with his counterparts from the other G-7 countries. They are looking at some mechanisms that could be used to create jobs.

Stimulating job creation through tax credits is an option that was discussed here but it was not specifically included in the budget. During discussions, the minister put the proposal before the assembly. He certainly heard the reaction of the other ministers and will take it into account in preparing his next budget. They are there to exchange ideas and to have intergovernmental discussions. Knowing the Minister of Finance, he is not afraid of exploring new avenues.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it gives a measure of the kind of co-ordination that exists in this cabinet.

Could the Prime Minister tell the House whether his Minister of Finance was authorized by cabinet to make such a proposal at the G-7 Detroit summit? Was he speaking on his own behalf or on behalf of the government?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance discussed an idea. When the Minister of Finance or other of my colleagues have new ideas, they do not call me to ask if they can have new ideas.

I encourage my ministers to explore new ideas and make proposals to cabinet. At that time I will decide whether we can incorporate them into the budget, yes or no.

I certainly would not blame any of my ministers for going to a summit to discuss new ways of creating jobs. I would applaud that.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

The point is not to forbid the minister to have new ideas. Anyway, we know he does not have new ideas. He is only copying old Tory ideas.

The point is that yesterday in the House the Prime Minister told us in a very firm and clear way that his minister would not raise the idea of a tax credit in Detroit. Here he was at the same time doing the one thing he should not have been doing, if we rely on what the Prime Minister said yesterday.

Does the Prime Minister intend to support the proposal made by his minister yesterday? Also, when the minister comes back from Detroit, can we expect a statement announcing a tax credit in favour of businesses that create jobs?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have voted on the budget. I do not expect the Minister of Finance to come with a new budget next week. He is there to explore new ideas. We on this side of the House can have new ideas.

In the case of the Leader of the Opposition, he changed parties five times in order to have new ideas. We can have them in one party.

Collège Militaire Royal De Saint-Jean

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the Minister of National Defence refused to confirm that negotiations were taking place with the Quebec government regarding the future of the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean. Also, yesterday the Prime Minister alluded to discussions with the Quebec government, while the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs said that an agreement was imminent, this in the presence of his colleague the Minister of National Defence, who visibly disagreed.

My question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. Can the minister tell us if, according to the agreement which he saw, some military activities will be maintained, as requested by the Quebec government?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, we are negotiating with officials from the Quebec government to determine the best possible use for the facilities in Saint-Jean.

When you are negotiating, it is somewhat like a poker game. It would be too easy to put all your cards on the table. What I indicated yesterday was that the federal government was prepared to negotiate on the basis of renting for $1 per year the buildings and the property, which are valued at about $42 million. This is the basis of our negotiating position. The details will be known later.

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my supplementary is for the Prime Minister. Given the very contradictory statements made by officials of his government, could the Prime Minister tell us exactly what the situation is regarding negotiations with the Quebec government on the future of the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, we do not negotiate in public. We indicated to Quebec government officials what our terms are, and they, in turn, informed us of their preferences. There is no disagreement between ministers of this government, including the Prime Minister, because we looked at this issue together. It will take a few days or weeks before the outcome of the process is known.

Job Creation

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Senior ministers of the government continue to send out contradictory signals on an old idea, namely the government's promise of job creation. The Minister of Human Resources Development says that this government will initiate job creation directly by spending more tax dollars. The Minister of Finance now refers to high taxes as a cancer on job creation and told Don Newman on Capital Report : ``We are going to cut government spending and we are going to cut it severely''.

These statements do not represent a balanced approach. They represent a contradictory approach to job creation. Can the Prime Minister tell us which of these senior ministers is accurately representing the position of the government on job creation?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I say to the leader of the Reform Party that our program on job creation was tabled in the House of Commons a few weeks ago in the budget. He has only to read the budget and he will know the position of this government.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know how to put it more plainly. The government cannot spend more tax dollars and cut spending at the same time. We cannot have one minister with his foot on the gas, one with his foot on the brake and nobody with their hand on the wheel, even if they are driving around Detroit.

There is a deep, inherent, systemic contradiction in the government's job creation strategy. Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians how and when he proposes to resolve this contradiction?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have cut expenditures and we are spending money on job creation with the municipalities and the provincial governments. It is a program that was approved by all first ministers and all mayors, including the mayor of Calgary. I have said that many, many times.

We have a very dimensional approach to this problem. It is the same situation as yesterday when two of his colleagues stood up to ask us to spend more money. Every time the leader of that party stands up, he tells us not to spend money. When will he put order in his little house and we can run our big house?

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the statements made by members on this side are not in support of spending money.

Yesterday the Prime Minister acknowledged that public works spending only creates temporary jobs. His own Minister of Finance has said that debt and increased taxes kill long term private sector job creation.

Why does the Prime Minister not commit his government to long term private sector job creation? Why does he not resolve this difference by coming down hard and unequivocally on the side of deficit reduction and tax relief?