Debates of March 24th, 1994

Unemployment Insurance

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the figures have been verified with Strategic Policy and, if you wish, I can give the name of the civil servant we contacted who, of course, was none too happy that we had these figures. For 1994-95 and 1995-96, they are correct.

How could we take seriously the job creation initiatives of the government when the only thing it does is wage war on the unemployed, while hiding reality behind programs like the one the Minister unveiled yesterday in New Brunswick, which will affect 1,000 persons and cost the federal government $40 million over 5 years, when more than a billion is being syphoned out of the Maritimes in just two years?

[English]

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

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the hon. member of the opposition is beginning to suffer from an acute case of selective memory.

The fact of the matter is we did not just announce one program for New Brunswick. We have also announced a major program that will affect young people. We announced an additional $20 million for young people, 10,000 more spots for summer employment. Our red book put forward these initiatives. We will be making an announcement very shortly. Places will be provided for tens of thousands of young people in internship programs. We have announced programs whereby we would put people into a youth service corps by the tens of thousands.

We have announced programs where we will provide the very major stimulus of $800 million right across the country for a wide range of new approaches to get people back to work.

We said in the red book that the old programs were not working. The old ways were not getting people back to work. We are dedicated as a government to getting people back to work. In order to do that we have to make changes. I wish the hon. member would realize that change in this world is necessary and not just defend the status quo.

Interest Rates

[Herb Grubel, Reform, Capilano—Howe Sound, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. Yesterday the minister acknowledged that Tuesday's rise in the Bank of Canada lending rate is likely to result in higher than budgeted costs for servicing the government debt. He insisted the estimate for other budget items were conservative and that the overall deficit estimate would be achieved.

It looks like business as usual. Does the minister admit that the high interest rates also will have a negative impact on economic growth and tax revenues and that therefore the overall deficit forecast is also too low?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows the current level of interest rates is substantially lower than the level we had six months or a year ago. Yesterday and today the vast majority of economists have said the current level will not in fact impede the economic growth we are now embarking on.

[Herb Grubel, Reform, Capilano—Howe Sound, BC]

Mr. Speaker, why was the Canadian dollar under such heavy pressure that the Bank of Canada on Tuesday had to increase its lending rate 18 per cent, or 78 basis points, to a level of 5 per cent and the exchange rate today has dropped another four-tenths of 1 per cent?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows the Minister of Finance cannot engage in speculating on the reasons for interest rate increases or decreases. I know he also realizes that if the Minister of Finance were to do so, he would get himself into a lot of trouble. I am sure the member would not want to get the Minister of Finance into a lot of trouble.

Average Income Of Francophones

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance. According to a Statistics Canada study, the income gap between francophones and anglophones is widening steadily at the expense of francophones. In 1977, this gap in favour of anglophones was 4.4 per cent. In 1992, it had increased to 10.3 per cent. This study also shows that only in Quebec has this historical income gap between anglophones and francophones narrowed.

Will the minister recognize that the socioeconomic status of francophones outside Quebec has deteriorated drastically, which goes to show that the Canadian federal system is a total failure?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, we are of course looking at these figures with great interest. As a francophone myself, I care a great deal about my economic future.

I think we should not jump to conclusions too quickly. Language is one thing, and the economic status of individuals is another, although the two can sometimes be linked. Many factors come into play in determining our economic conditions.

The main thing we can do, in my opinion, is to continue to monitor the situation, gather data and eventually draw conclusions which will be well-informed.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying that I am not worried about the minister's economic situation. While he is at it, the minister might as well examine other areas, as we have requested.

Would the Minister of Finance agree with me that, if the income gap narrowed in Quebec, it was thanks to Bill 101 which opened senior management positions up to francophones in Quebec?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

It is quite interesting, Mr. Speaker, to see also what is happening in New Brunswick, where the gap between anglophones and francophones is rather small.

[An hon. member]

How small?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Laval West, QC]

One percentage point. I think that we should also bear in mind that the statistics published were for five provinces. As I said earlier, let us wait and see what the studies will reveal when they are further along before answering.

House Of Commons

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the government House leader.

There is further evidence that business as usual in Ottawa is continuing. Only a few months ago the Liberal Party when in opposition complained that the dictatorial Tory regime used its majority to ram controversial legislation through Parliament. How the Liberals did abhor the actions they now casually justify.

Will the government House leader stand and tell this House that the government will never again for the life of this Parliament resort to such undemocratic tactics as closure through time allocation to stifle debate?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I said on behalf of the government it will be found over the life of this Parliament that this government will be using time allocation and closure far less frequently than its predecessor. I challenge the opposition House leader to raise this again after a few years and see if I am right.

Speaking of democracy, I do not know why the hon. member is complaining when the majority of members want to have a decision taken. I thought that was democracy rather than having this place run by the minority in the Reform Party.

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

Mr. Speaker, it was my impression that this House was a forum whereby members could have the opportunity of making a case to convince the other side and that is the purpose of this.

In the Liberal red book the government says it will take a series of initiatives to restore confidence in the institutions of government; open government will be the watch word of the Liberal program.

Is the use of closure through time allocation one of the initiatives that will be used to restore confidence? Is this what the House leader calls open government?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member forgets that with his support and the support of the Official Opposition this House passed a major package of parliamentary reform measures. Is he reflecting on his own decision? I doubt he wants to do that.

Furthermore if the member wants to worry about shutting off debate, why is he wasting the time of this House today with repeated quorum calls blanking out the chances of members even of his own party to debate? That is not parliamentary democracy.

Rights Of Francophones

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Richelieu, QC]

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

According to many experts, the income gap between anglophones and francophones in every province except Quebec is due in large part to the educational difficulties encountered by francophones. This opinion is shared by the Liberal member for Ottawa-Vanier who told the TVA television network yesterday: "We asked for the management of our own schools because it goes hand in hand with regular management. We still do not have it in Ontario after asking for it continuously for 30 years".

Does the minister share the opinion of his Liberal colleague from Ottawa-Vanier and does he recognize that francophones outside Quebec do not enjoy the same rights and privileges as anglophones in Canada and Quebec?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, what I recognize above all is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I recognize the Supreme Court decisions defining these rights. I believe these rights should be enforced and respected. That is precisely why this government recently introduced a Court Challenges Program to help right the wrongs done to those who feel their rights have been violated.

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Richelieu, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I hope that if the minister believes in rights and freedoms, he also believes that Supreme Court decisions should be implemented, but unfortunately they are not.

Does the minister admit that the federal government miserably failed to ensure that francophone and Acadian communities in Canada manage their own schools, and to give them enough money to have proper schools, not like those in Kingston?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I would like all these schools to be magnificent, but I can assure you that we do not forget those lacking these facilities. That is why a program costing in excess of $100 million is under way to build and expand schools. This is a big country and we cannot do everything at once.

But I hasten to add that education is an area of provincial jurisdiction and what we can do is negotiate with the provinces to improve the situation. Negotiations are under way where the needs are greater and I hope they will succeed in improving the situation.

Publishing Industry

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Ontario, ON]

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

The Canadian publishing industry represents a $2.2 billion industry which directly employs over 12,000 Canadians. Many of these individuals are in my riding. However this is one industry that has been battered by recession, by globalization and by foreign competition.

Will the minister tell this House what his department and this government are doing to support the Canadian publishing industry which is so vital to Canada and all our ridings?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

I share the concern of my colleague. It is indeed a vital industry. It is one we should support and we are doing so.

I can indicate the amounts we are putting behind that industry. We are providing over $20 million in support to the Canadian book publishing industry under publication and distribution assistance for the coming fiscal year. We are also providing $24 million in the coming fiscal year. The postal subsidy for the next two years will be over $77 million. That is a total of over $120 million. That is the support we are giving to that industry.

Government Contracts

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services.

On November 4 last year the Prime Minister promised to examine the process of awarding advertising contracts. As yet no guidelines have been produced.

On February 1 a well known Liberal campaign manager who is also a close friend and former employee of the Minister of Human Resources Development became a director and owner of McKim Communications. Just three days later a federal contract worth $5.5 million was extended to him. On the surface this appears to be another example of business as usual. I assume the minister must approve all these contracts.

Besides the ownership of this company is the minister aware of an employee or an officer of McKim Communications who is closely related to a member of his own cabinet, and could he identify that person?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question because it gives us an opportunity to set the record straight.

Not all that long ago the hon. member stood in the House and indicated to members of Parliament that it was a $184 million contract. Today it is a $5 million contract. The hon. member should know that the Minister of Health has responded to the specifics of a question that was raised by a colleague, perhaps in the hon. member's absence.

However on the broader issue with regard to advertising, polling and communications, the hon. member is correct. The Prime Minister issued a directive. We are presently reviewing the policy and looking at the monetary sum allocated for the purposes of the particular program.

I am sure the House leader of the Reform Party would concur because in the substance of the question he did not in any way disagree with the government using polling or consulting or advertising for those purposes. I want to assure the hon. member that the matter is under active review.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the matter is under active review, but I believe there are enough questions of integrity on the particular issue that I would ask the minister, in order to clear this rather confusing and muddling answer, if he would initiate a public inquiry into this advertising contract to see if there has been any improper or political interference in the wording of the particular contract.