Debates of April 14th, 1994

Conflict In Former Yugoslavia

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly echo the view expressed by the Leader of the Opposition that these soldiers who are serving under the UN flag are always in some difficulty and some danger. It is inherent in their responsibilities and their duty as soldiers to risk their lives

or risk their security. It is part of their job. They understand it and they perform it very well, to their credit.

We are very concerned by this incident. We are taking every step possible through the UN and through the negotiation process on the ground to ensure their release and I hope it will be done very soon.

Rwanda

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is also directed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Quebeckers and Canadians were appalled by the scenes of slaughter and barbarism in Rwanda following a coup by the Rwandan army. In fact, the situation continues to deteriorate.

Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs comment on current negotiations between the rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front and government troops on concluding a genuine cease-fire? And is the minister prepared to ask the UN Security Council to help the parties agree on conditions for a cease-fire?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we deplore these unconscionable acts of barbarism, and we think every attempt should be made to try to restore peace in this country.

Over the years, Canadians who worked in Rwanda have established close ties with the people of that country, and it is clear we cannot let this relationship be compromised by these events. When we are in trouble, we know who our friends are, and I can assure this House that Canada is prepared to continue to support the efforts of those who want to help the Rwandan people develop in peace and harmony.

Finally, I can give the hon. member the assurance that this morning I spoke to our representative at the UN who at this very moment is considering the best way to initiate action with other countries, through the United Nations, to help restore peace and security in Rwanda.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the same vein, will the minister, on behalf of the federal government, make a commitment to participate in much needed efforts to provide humanitarian and medical aid by supporting agencies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada will provide $1 million in aid immediately, including $400,000 to Doctors without Borders Canada, to be used to send surgical teams, including two Canadians, to Rwanda; $300,000 to the International Red Cross Committee to provide emergency assistance, including medical assistance; and finally, $300,000 to the International Red Cross Federation to help neighbouring countries prepare for the arrival of refugees.

Bosnia-Hercegovina

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

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

I think it is evident that the Bosnian Serbs are now retaliating for NATO's bombing raids on Sunday and Monday. What course of action does the Government of Canada propose if this retaliation continues or, worse yet, were to escalate?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ with the hon. member. He is drawing a conclusion that is not necessarily the right one.

Quite clearly the bombing and the air strikes that took place were because there was heavy artillery against the city of Gorazde. This city was under heavy artillery bombardment. Indications were given that if it did not stop there would be air strikes. There were air strikes and we now know that the heavy artillery has stopped following the use of air strikes. It stopped the heavy artillery bombardment against the city.

We believe these incidents are regrettable but we do not believe they mean an escalation of the conflict.

We hope that good judgment will prevail and the parties will accept that the only course to be followed is to go to the table to negotiate a lasting peace settlement.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for his answer.

Whether or not these incidents are retaliatory, I wonder if the minister could tell us what specific steps the government has taken to make it clear to the Bosnian Serbs that Canada will use its status as a recognized peacekeeper to marshal world opinion against them and their supporters unless this type of activity is stopped immediately.

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we will certainly press for this type of message through the UN.

The countries that are involved under the auspices of the United Nations are all concerned by this situation whether they are Canadian soldiers, French soldiers or other soldiers who are victims of this harassment. It is quite clear that we cannot allow it to continue indefinitely.

This is why we have asked Mr. Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg to go there to speak on behalf of the United Nations and to press on the Bosnian Serbs the importance of participating in the peace process.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a further supplementary question. Various observers of the Bosnian situation suggest that UN peacekeepers there really have three options.

One is to do nothing different than what has been done in the past and run the risk of the collapse of the peacekeeping effort. The second is to issue the Bosnian Serbs an ultimatum with respect to this form of harassment and be prepared to back it up. The third is to prepare to withdraw.

Would the minister make it clear to the House whether the government favours any of these options or perhaps some other option?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has renewed, with the support of Parliament, a further six-month commitment as part of the UN forces.

Second, Canada is very active on the negotiation side and is trying through the diplomatic route to bring the parties to accept a peace settlement. We believe we are getting close to it.

Some of the parties still resist the process of a negotiated settlement but if we pursue it diligently, if we do not lose our cool, at the end there will be a peaceful solution. That is the course we prefer.

Job Training

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. The Premier of Quebec said yesterday in the National Assembly that job training is, according to Quebec's traditional position, a basic issue of respect for our jurisdiction over what affects us directly.

Given these statements by the Quebec premier, a good federalist, does the Prime Minister still think that Quebec's demands are mere whims?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

As everyone knows, a 1941 constitutional amendment gave the federal government responsibility over an unemployment insurance program. We have jurisdiction in this area. We use the funds we collect for unemployment insurance to help the unemployed receive education and training from provincial governments, which have jurisdiction in these fields.

We want to eliminate overlap and that is why a meeting will be held on Monday. Several meetings have already taken place with Quebec and the other provinces to try to make the system more efficient. That is what we want to do.

Both levels of government have jurisdiction in this area and it is very important to work together to try to find a way to eliminate duplication. As I explained in this House, it must be understood that unemployment insurance programs were put in place in Canada to allow the central government to use the money of those fortunate enough to work and transfer it to the unemployed in the provinces or in some regions. Quebec, unfortunately, is among the provinces that benefited the most, while Maritimers benefited even more. Canada has always operated by ensuring a redistribution of wealth in this country.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, does the Prime Minister realize that, by reviving disputes between Quebec City and Ottawa on an issue that is the subject of unanimous agreement in Quebec, not only does he give his Trudeau-style centralizing vision precedence over the interests of Quebec's unemployed workers, but he also clearly shows to allQuebeckers-federalists and others-that the only federalism possible for them is one of confrontation and scorn for their people?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have been in office for less than six months. We have reached an agreement on the smuggling problem with the Quebec government. We succeeded in setting up with the Quebec government an infrastructure program that works very well. Other agreements have been reached or will be in the coming days.

I am saying there is a problem of jurisdiction in this area and we are looking for a reasonable solution. I know very well that no solution within our system can satisfy people who do not want to be part of Canada.

Government Expenditures

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

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday of this week the Reform Party forced the Prime Minister to admit that further spending cuts are necessary.

The Minister of Finance talks about deep and severe cuts but the Prime Minister talks of millions and not billions. Could the Prime Minister tell the House how cuts as small as millions will resolve a deficit of $40 billion?

[Doug Peters, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, our budget was set out quite clearly on February 22. We set out a plan that would reduce the deficit to 3 per cent of GDP in three years and cut billions of dollars from spending.

The member is quite wrong. We will continue to look for savings in that budget.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and his colleagues should know you cannot bail out a sinking ship with a thimble.

Will the Prime Minister identify in the House today how many millions or billions he has in mind for these additional expenditure cuts or is this just a stall in the hope that the problem will go away?

[Doug Peters, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, there is no stalling. We have a clear cut plan to bring the deficit down to 3 per cent of GDP. That is our interim target. We are going beyond that after. I think the hon. member knows full well this is the best way to handle our deficit.

Youth Action Plan

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

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

The apprenticeship program in the government's youth strategy is another federal infringement on Quebec's jurisdiction over education, which is clearly a provincial field. The Financial Post reported this morning that national standards will apply to more and more programs.

My question is this: Does the minister recognize that with this new intrusion into provincial jurisdiction, he is going against Quebec's demands and contributing directly to more costly and inefficient duplication in the field of labour?

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

Mr. Speaker, I still stand in great awe of the hon. member's ability to make judgments about details of programs which have not yet been announced.

I would think as a result he may want to hold his profound analysis until such time as he has the facts before him. I know he does not want to get confused by the facts but sometimes facts are very useful to have.

In that case, I would suggest to the hon. member that he might review this fact. The co-chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, which has made a direct call to the establishment of national standards for things like science and mathematics in English and French the minister of education from Quebec.

[Antoine Dubé, Bloc, Lévis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the youth action plan was announced several times in the media this week, so its contents are an open secret.

Before presenting his youth plan, did the minister at least have the decency to first obtain the agreement of the Government of Quebec, since his apprenticeship program is another offensive in the field of education?

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

Mr. Speaker, when there are over 400,000 young people below the age of 24 unemployed, it would seem that rather than being critical and trying to poke holes, the hon. member should be trying to support constructive collaborative partnerships between all levels of government to get young people back to work. That is our intention.

It would seem that he is engaging in the kind of debate which I think many people in the country do not find effective. What they really want is to get their sons and daughters and nieces and nephews back to work. That is what we would like to do in co-operation with the provinces.

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the federal government will announce the youth corps initiative that will provide short term make-work positions this year for less than 1 per cent of Canada's 400,000 unemployed youth.

Could the Minister of Human Resources Development tell us why he is creating false hope by spending so much money on a program of such limited potential?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member must be drinking from the same speculative cup as the hon. member for Lévis. They are making judgments about programs that have yet to be announced. The details are not there and the money has not been allocated. All that is there is in the fantasies or the nightmares of the hon. member.

I would caution him that before he makes comments about a program he should see what the program is.