House of Commons Hansard #49 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, I think the minister should acknowledge that he has great gaping holes in his own department. That is where this information came from. It is in the media and people have commented on it already.
Will the minister admit that what Canadian youth really want are real jobs, not phoney government created make-work jobs, and that the government's failure to address overspending is the primary cause of chronic high unemployment in the country?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification
Mr. Speaker, over the last several months members of Parliament of this caucus, the hon. Secretary of State for Youth and Training and myself have gone across the country and talked to thousands of young people.
They tell us that when they come out of formal education, when they leave high school or community college, the most difficult problem they face is to get into the job market. That problem of making the transition from school to work is one of the most serious, difficult issues that young people face.
Our purpose in putting forward ideas, as we did in the red book, about internship programs, the community youth service corps, is to give young people that first chance into the job market, to get the resumé, to get the experience and to get the work practice. That is what young people were asking us to do.
It would seem to me that the hon. member should be standing on his feet and saying thank God there is a government that finally is going to do something about a real problem.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, government ministers and even the Prime Minister were puffing out their chests and bursting their buttons following the release of the latest unemployment figures. Yet, we are still not out of the woods. Taking into account the increase in population, Quebec would need an additional 215,000 jobs today to return to pre-recession employment levels.
Instead of celebrating prematurely, will the Prime Minister not recognize that given the current pace of job creation, Quebec will have to wait at least another three years before employment returns to pre-recession levels?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, our government has been in office for five months and the trend is improving. Last month, unemployment was down 0.8 per cent in Quebec. That is not good enough. More improvement is needed. Nevertheless, we are making progress. We must stay this course and that is why we are trying to introduce job creation programs. Such a high level of unemployment throughout the country is unacceptable and certainly no cause for celebration.
We must never stop working to reduce unemployment. Unfortunately, the rate will not fall overnight. However, the outlook is very good and we must work doubly hard to ensure that we obtain ever better results in the years to come. I am confident that the situation will improve within a few months' time.
Yvan Loubier Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Mr. Speaker, when I listen to the Prime Minister speak, I get the impression that we are living on different planets. The outlook is not very good. The recovery is more anemic than ever.
Will the Prime Minister not recognize that since he took office, for every two jobs created in Quebec, another depressed, discouraged person has joined the ranks of social assistance recipients? Does he not realize that his outrageous scheme to reform the unemployment insurance system will only make matters worse?
Beryl Gaffney Liberal Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General.
It has been reported that a woman who was sexually assaulted by a co-worker of the RCMP was unable to receive redress from her employers. Today the victim, a single mother, has been forced to leave the job while the perpetrator of the crime is still employed with the RCMP.
Does the RCMP really believe that it is outside the law? What is being done to redress the job loss and harassment suffered by this woman?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned about this case and the press reports indicating serious questions about the way the internal investigation was handled.
This morning I spoke about the matter to the commissioner of the RCMP. He assured me that sexual harassment is not tolerated in the force. He went on to say that he has ordered an immediate and thorough review of the matter in order to determine how the case was handled and if remedial action is required.
He assures me that the review is being given top priority and I hope to have further statements, as does the commissioner, before too long.
Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of trade, the minister of agriculture, or in this case a substitute.
Today's Report on Business states that the Liberal agriculture and trade ministers will sign an agreement today. It will allow an import quota on durum wheat of two million tonnes in exchange for the United States dropping its challenge about the protection of the supply management sector in Canada.
Are the ministers going to cave in to the United States by allowing a quota where none is warranted? Furthermore, are the ministers pitting one sector against another by caving in on durum wheat in order to protect supply management as the report said?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food
Mr. Speaker, I point out to the hon. member the minister has made it very clear to all the sectors and all Canadians that he is not pitting one sector of the Canadian agri-food industry against the other. He will not be trading one off against the other. Negotiations are going on in Morocco as we speak right now.
The reports the hon. member read in the press are only that. They are reports from the press only and do not necessarily reflect the facts.
Leon Benoit Reform Vegreville, AB
Mr. Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for the answer.
What specific guarantees could the government give to assure grain farmers that the government will not cave in to the United States and that grain farmers will not be sacrificed in order to achieve a favourable outcome for supply management?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food
Mr. Speaker, a guarantee that the government and I can give to the hon. member and to the Canadian grain industry is that the minister has not done that to date. He does not intend to do that and he is going to negotiate an agreement with the United States in the best interest of Canadians and Canadian farmers.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Prime Minister. The sovereignist option for Quebec includes a firm commitment to recognize and protect the historic rights of Quebec's anglophone minority and to enshrine those rights in the Constitution of a sovereign Quebec. Yesterday in the House, in a disturbing and, I would say, deplorable statement, the Prime Minister mentioned the possibility that francophone minorities outside Quebec would be denied their rights, should Quebec become a sovereign nation.
Francophone Minorities Outside QuebecOral Questions
The Speaker
Order. This is a hypothetical question. I would appreciate it if questions were a little more to the point. If the Right Hon. Prime Minister wishes to respond, he may do so. Otherwise-
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that last week, presidents of associations of francophones outside Quebec told a reporter for the Toronto Star that considering the difficult circumstances in which they lived, it did not help their cause when francophones in Quebec said they were prepared to separate from Canada.
The French fact has survived in Canada because we francophones have all stood together since 1867, and that is why we are still francophones, not martyrs as members opposite would have people believe. The Leader of the Opposition said that in Washington, and he is a French Canadian francophone, the Prime Minister is a French Canadian francophone and so is our ambassador in Washington. They are telling the world they are martyrs. Let us be serious.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC
If the Prime Minister thinks it is our fault, he is wrong, and the statement he made yesterday in the House was a disgrace, coming from a Prime Minister. If he has any credibility-
Francophone Minorities Outside QuebecOral Questions
The Speaker
I hope all hon. members would address themselves as much as possible to the issue at hand as opposed to in any way impugning any kind of motive by anyone else. I would invite the hon. member to pose her question.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is quite simple. Is the Prime Minister prepared to make a commitment in this House that he will reverse the budget cuts affecting francophones outside Quebec? That is what people are asking. If he really wants to help francophones, he should stop cutting their funding.
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we have provided very generous funding for a long time to francophone communities outside Quebec. There may have been a few cuts, but a number of other sectors in our society have seen their funding cut as well. However, that does not mean we are not committed to the survival of these people.
I am glad to see the members of the Bloc want to support francophones outside Quebec. If that is the case, the best way to do it is to work within Canada with all French-speaking Canadians so that we can be strong and proud to be Canadians.
John Duncan Reform North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Could the minister confirm that the Deloitte & Touche draft audit of the Métis Society of Saskatchewan commissioned by the federal government and the Government of Saskatchewan has revealed fraud and fabrication of documents, a $1 million operating deficit by the society and violation of the funding agreement between the federal government and the society?
Ron Irwin LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Mr. Speaker, as the question relates to the Métis I think it should be addressed to the interlocutor. He has the wrong minister. I will take it under advisement and bring it to her attention.
John Duncan Reform North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is for the Prime Minister.
Rank and file Métis are concerned about the lack of accountability of funding arrangements by the department of Indian affairs and how it may affect Métis credibility and future funding.
Could the Prime Minister assure the House that all future funding arrangements with aboriginal groups will include publicly disclosed annual audits?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, when we make arrangements with any groups in Canada, we ask them to make their books available for the Auditor General and other officials of the government to see if they have respected the arrangement.
We will do that with the Métis organization and the native organizations as with any other organization. The federal money they receive from us is taxpayers' money and we should make sure we get value for our money.