Debates of March 24th, 1994

Government Contracts

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

Mr. Speaker, I am tempted to refer-however I do not think it would be politically correct in terms of the language of the House-to the question as silly.

However the hon. member must realize that an answer was provided by the Minister of Health. The specifics were provided to the House. I am sorry the hon. member does not like the information he is getting. I guess the hon. member would want me to say that it was $184 million and not something substantially less than $5 million.

The facts have been provided by the Minister of Health. All the information is readily available. I indicated on a previous occasion that if the hon. member wants the details all he has had to do is ask, slip us a note.

Via Rail

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance in his capacity as Minister responsible for regional development in Quebec.

This morning, we learned that as part of its rationalization plan, VIA Rail is planning to cancel service on the Montreal-Gaspé and Montreal-Chicoutimi runs and to severely curtail service between Montreal and Abitibi. In other words, after denouncing the cuts to VIA Rail when they were in opposition, the Liberals are maintaining the policy of the Conservatives and abandoning rail passenger service.

Does this mean that once again, VIA Rail will be streamlining its operations at the expense of Eastern Canada, and in particular, of Quebec which will experience far more drastic rail service cuts than Western Canada?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the document to which my hon. colleague is referring is an internal VIA Rail document. There is no question that the negotiations currently under way will determine to a large degree where service cuts will be made.

If there is no dramatic improvement in VIA Rail's ability to provide service within the budgets allocated by the federal government, then some major changes will certainly be made. However, no final decision has been made at this time because the negotiations are still ongoing.

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how will the minister responsible for regional development in Quebec be able to sanction cuts of this magnitude which will hinder regional economic development in Quebec by severing an essential link between the regions and Montreal?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the decisions that are going to be taken with respect to the rationalization of services provided by VIA Rail are going to be taken from coast to coast, not just in the province of Quebec.

The negotiations that are being conducted right now with employees and with the management of VIA Rail are going to have a significant impact on what we can provide in terms of rail passenger services for Canadians within the restrictions that were announced a year ago in a previous budget and confirmed in the budget brought down in the House in February.

How well we do in these negotiations will have a direct impact on how much rail passenger service we can protect in the country, in Quebec and elsewhere.

Greenpeace

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Comox—Alberni, BC]

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

Over the past number of months Greenpeace has been carrying out a misinformation campaign in Europe regarding forest practices in British Columbia.

Canadians are sick and tired of their tax dollars being used to support special interest lobby groups. If groups such as Greenpeace wish to engage in political activities, they should rely solely on the contributions of their supporters and not on backing from Canadian taxpayers.

Will the minister undertake a full scale review of the criteria used to determine tax exemption status for Greenpeace and other non-profit organizations?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the tax exempt status of many organizations is under close review by the department. There is a series of cases where we have withdrawn that privilege from an organization for misuse of funds or not abiding by the required rules.

With respect to the particular issue of Greenpeace I will take the member's representation, but I know of no examination taking place at the present moment.

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Comox—Alberni, BC]

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

Given that this misinformation campaign is costing the Canadian economy both in terms of lost revenue and lost jobs, what is the government doing to counter this misinformation campaign in Europe?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, once more the member should recognize that we live in a democracy where people are expected to have differing opinions on many important issues. We have no intention of attempting to restrict free debate, provided of course that it does not violate the normal rules respecting liable or slander.

It is certainly true that the trade offices in Europe are attempting to put forth the correct picture of forest practices in British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada, to follow the same types of processes as they have done in the past with respect to other Canadian products under attack in Europe, and at least to set the record straight.

Once again, we do not expect German or any European authorities to adopt Draconian restrictions on freedom of speech simply to prevent the debate that may be taking place at the present time between some group and some industry. That is not our intention and we will make no representations to that effect.

Democracy In Mexico

[Mark Assad, Liberal, Gatineau—La Lièvre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Following the assassination of presidential candidate Luis Colosio, does the Canadian government still have confidence in Mexico's stability?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express the condolences of the Canadian people, as the Prime Minister did yesterday, to the Mexican people for this senseless act. I am sure that I speak on behalf of all parliamentarians as well as Canadians when I offer our most heartfelt condolences to Mr. Colosio's family, to his colleagues in the Mexican government and to the Mexican people following this really unacceptable act.

I think that the President of Mexico and his government are dealing with this terrible situation calmly and courageously. To answer the hon. member's question, the Canadian government is still confident in Mexico's stability and in the desire of the Mexican government to pursue a more democratic political system.

Publishing Industry

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On top of contradicting himself daily regarding the Ginn Publishing transaction, the Minister of Canadian Heritage still refuses to make public all the documents related to this transaction, including the legal opinion on which he relied to approve the transaction.

My question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. How can the minister seriously claim that a legal opinion from the Department of Justice can include some confidential Cabinet discussions? How can he seriously make such a claim?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Because it is a fact, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, does the minister agree that the only way to preserve what credibility he may still have regarding this issue is to order a public inquiry, so that we can find out exactly what happened?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I have already expressed my opinion several times on this, and that opinion has not changed.

Official Languages Act

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not questioning the value of bilingualism but the practice and the cost of official bilingualism as mandated by the Official Languages Act.

Government officials have told me that they are not allowed to report the true costs of conforming to the rules of official bilingualism.

I would like to ask a question of the Acting Prime Minister. Will the government commit to an open debate in the House on the true cost of official bilingualism with full disclosure by all government departments so that we can settle the question of cost of bilingualism once and for all?

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

Mr. Speaker, these matters come before the relevant parliamentary committees during the studies of the estimates that relate to the official languages policy. In particular, the programs for which the President of the Treasury Board is responsible are studied by the relevant committees.

Finally, these matters are before the public accounts committee. I invite the hon. member to come there to get the facts and find that what he has been told by unknown sources is not correct.

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I happen to be on the public accounts committee and what the public accounts committee deals with are the direct costs. I am referring to the indirect costs as well.

Since it is business as usual across the way, I wonder if the government intends to continue with the $5,000 grant to the Canadian Kennel Club to promote bilingualism. Is it a part of the government's bilingualism policy to train English sheep dogs and French poodles to communicate with each other?

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

Mr. Speaker,

after listening to the hon. member's question, it is very clear that it continues to be business as usual for the Reform Party.

Magazine Industry

[Simon de Jong, NDP, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

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

Earlier today the task force on the Canadian magazine industry released its report and recommended that those foreign magazines already operating split runs should be exempted from the proposed excise tax.

This would mean that Sports Illustrated which knowingly broke Canadian regulations last year would be rewarded with a permanent exemption from the law.

Will the minister rise in his place today and announce that his government will totally reject this recommendation of the task force?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I have indeed received the report and I have read it carefully. It is not my habit to declare policy without consulting the people concerned, the interests of Canadians concerned and my colleagues. As early as possible I will come forward with a policy before cabinet and before this House.

Gun Control

[Warren Allmand, Liberal, Notre-Dame-De-Grâce, QC]

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

Earlier today I presented a petition to Parliament with 200,000 signatures asking that handguns be banned for private use. This petition was initiated by Concordia University where in 1992 four professors were murdered by an individual who easily acquired three handguns.

Since handguns are not used for hunting and have no other legitimate use for ordinary citizens, would the minister give serious consideration to the demands made in these petitions: "Where guns are less available there is less crime with guns"?

[Russell MacLellan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I know that all members of the House were, as I was, saddened by this senseless tragedy at Concordia University. I know all members of the House would want to join with the Minister of Justice and myself in offering our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims.

I would like to say that petitions are the voices of Canadians and, as such, should all be given attention and consideration. I want to assure the hon. member that this petition will be getting full attention and consideration from the Minister of Justice.

[The Speaker]

Well, this has been a lively day.

Business Of The House

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Leader of the Government the usual question about the business of the House.