House of Commons Hansard #52 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was drugs.
René Canuel Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC
My supplementary is for the Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development in Quebec.
Is the minister prepared to come and sit down-and not merely go through the area like he did during the election campaign-with residents of the Gaspe Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence region to find, with them and with provincial officials, ways to make better use of current income security funds and create real jobs?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec
In the context of the social security reform undertaken by my colleague, I will certainly do so. However, I will not be the only one; other ministers are willing to go too. Nevertheless, as I have already said, I can tell you unequivocally that I am quite prepared to go and meet your constituents this summer.
Jim Jordan Liberal Leeds—Grenville, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for housing.
The budget announcement that $100 million over the next two years will be available to improve the housing of low income Canadians is being well received, particularly in rural Canada. Reinstating RRAP will create jobs and improve living conditions for low income Canadians.
Could the minister advise the House when the funds will be made available? What interest has there been from the provinces and territories to become partners in this program?
David Dingwall LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his unexpected question.
We have had numerous deliberations with the provincial governments across the country. A number of them have agreed with us that there is a necessity for cutting out duplication and overlap. However a number of them for a variety of reasons have not wanted to proceed with us. For instance, in the province of Ontario there has been no sharing of that common vision.
Moneys under RRAP will be made available later this week. Applications can be processed in the coming weeks. I hope we will be able to have a fair amount of money in the system in order to provide the necessary repairs for the homes in need.
Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister admitted that the gravy train is already at the station picking up loyal Liberals for well paid government jobs. It appears this government is prepared to pay a premium to get the gravy train to stop at Liberal advertising and polling stations. It is my understanding cabinet is considering guidelines to grant government contracts to Liberals even if their fees are 10 per cent higher than non-Liberal competitors.
Will the Prime Minister commit to this House that his government's new guidelines, whenever they are released, will not consider old style patronage as an acceptable method of making hiring and contract decisions?
David Dingwall LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the hon. member gets his information with regard to the context of guidelines which are to be released by the government.
I want to assure him however that the Prime Minister made a clear and unequivocal commitment to Canadians that this subject matter would be reviewed. The matter has been reviewed. We are in the throes of releasing those guidelines to the public. Members will then have an opportunity to assess their effectiveness.
I want to assure the hon. member the principles of competency, fiscal responsibility and transparency will be seen throughout those guidelines.
Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious the ethics counsellor is long overdue. Can the Prime Minister tell us when this appointment will finally be made?
Monique Guay Bloc Laurentides, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Public Works, and it is a real question.
Strange things are happening in the Department of Public Works. In the procurement contract for flu vaccine purchased for the provinces, the minister, acting on his own initiative, split the contract equally between Connaught in Ontario and Bio Vac in Quebec. The minister says he found a Canadian solution to a Canadian problem. However, the contract share awarded to Connaught will be produced in the United States.
Since BioVac is offering these vaccines at $1.70 per unit, why does the government insist on paying more-$1.85 per unit-with its decision to purchase part of these vaccines in the United States, so that Quebec loses 26 high tech jobs and an investment project worth $32 million will be cancelled?
David Dingwall LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. Obviously the hon. member does not have all of the facts.
The hon. member should be aware that in previous years the amount of the contract awarded to the company from the province of Quebec was approximately 38 per cent over a three year average.
This year because of the representations made by the hon. member and her party, all of which we took into consideration, we were able to have an agreement in principle where both parties, Connaught industries from Ontario and BioVac from Quebec, would be able to split a contract on a 50:50 basis. Keep in mind that the Government of Canada purchased less than 1 per cent of the vaccine and 99 per cent of that particular contract was purchased by the other provinces across this country.
Monique Guay Bloc Laurentides, QC
Mr. Speaker, are we to conclude that the contract splitting was the result of pressure from ministers in Toronto, who prefer an approach that is more expensive and risky in terms of security and supply, to drum up business for a Toronto distributor, as opposed to awarding the whole contract to a Quebec manufacturer?
David Dingwall LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, again I thank the hon. member for such a wonderful question.
I informed the hon. member and this House that two years ago in the province of Quebec BioVac did not get 50 per cent of the contract; 87 per cent of the contract went to the province of Ontario.
What we have provided under this particular regime is a 50:50 splitting of the contract. One per cent of that contract is purchased by the Government of Canada; 99 per cent is purchased by all the other provinces. If that is not equity I am sure the hon. member might want to go back to math school.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.
In Edmonton on April 17 in the early hours of the morning a young couple, ages 36 and 37, with their two children, ages 9 and 6, were wakened by a noise. The mother, thinking it was one of her children, went to investigate. Three young offenders had broken into their house. When she confronted them they promptly stabbed her to death.
When is this minister going to act by sending a clear message to violent young offenders that the experiments of the seventies were a failure and they will be treated henceforth as the vicious criminals they are?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we all read with shock and horror the facts of the case to which the hon. member has referred. I do
not want to discuss that case because at least two people have been taken into custody and that is a matter for the courts.
Let me speak to the broader point the hon. member has raised not for the first time in this House. Let me say I have responded not for the first time in this House that this government, from its platform through to its present policy, has recognized the need for changes to the Young Offenders Act. A thorough review of the statute is needed to determine whether it continues to meet the needs of the Canadian public.
As I have told my hon. friend in the past we are going to introduce legislation in this House in June to make specific changes to the statute. At the same time we will turn the Young Offenders Act in its entirety over to the justice committee of which the hon. member is a member for a thorough review to ensure it meets the needs of juvenile justice in Canada.
That is the same response I gave last time. I shall give that response the next time the hon. member asks the same question.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I will probably have to ask the same question about a new case. How many people have to die before this government will realize the legislation they have had in place for 16 years is useless? It is time to act.
This Young Offenders Act is inherently flawed. Any amount of tinkering this government will do will not fix it. We need completely new legislation for young offenders.
Will the minister replace this legislation? Will the minister scrap the act?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I have already said the justice committee will be asked to look at the act to determine whether it ought to be changed further, beyond the changes we are going to introduce in June.
Let me add that it seems to me the hon. member is falling into the error of assuming the tragedies to which he refers, the crimes to which he makes reference in his questions, can be averted or overcome by the simple expedient of changing a piece of legislation. The difficulties and problems to which he refers run deeper than that.
The approach this government is taking is not only to introduce changes to statutes as required, and that we shall do, but also to address the broader question of crime prevention in this country, also a priority for this government.
Tony Ianno Liberal Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.
As the Canadian telephone sales and telemarketing industry continues to grow, so has an increase in telephone sales fraud. Telephone sales fraud has become alarmingly commonplace with some studies estimating that it defrauds the public of up to $100 million. These fraudulent practices affect all Canadians but especially senior citizens.
What is the minister prepared to do or doing at this time to protect Canadians from this telephone sales fraud?
John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member not only for his question but also for raising this issue in the House of Commons at this time.
It is a very important concern not just of our department and of the Bureau of Competition Policy but it should be a matter of concern for all Canadians.
As he mentions senior citizens particularly have been victimized by fraudulent telemarketing activities. For that reason the Bureau of Competition Policy which is responsible for enforcing laws respecting misleading advertising has included a flyer with the old age security cheques. This notice warns senior citizens of the danger of telephone fraud and of making the appropriate inquiries when telephone calls are received.
Also the Bureau of Competition Policy in co-operation with the RCMP and provincial police forces will be increasing enforcement activities to see that the laws on the books are appropriately enforced.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board. On the issue of pay equity, the media recently reported that the Government of Quebec and the Quebec union of provincial employees had come to an agreement. Some $90 million will be paid in catch-up wages and another $25 million in pay equalization adjustment in certain employment categories.
In view of the fact that the provincial governments in Quebec and Ontario continue to consider pay equity a key priority, does the minister intend to finally pay female employees of the Federal Public Service the amounts owed them pursuant to a ruling by the Human Rights Tribunal over three years ago?
Art Eggleton LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, pay equity is a priority of this government. Indeed in the past the federal government has reimbursed employees to try to ensure pay equity.
There is a dispute currently before a human rights tribunal. We are presently exploring with the unions the opportunity to try to bring about a settlement in this matter. I hope that will be achieved and I will further report to the House on the matter.
Jim Silye Reform Calgary Centre, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
Yesterday in the House the minister characterized spending cuts for next year's budget as massive. Last week the Prime Minister said that any additional spending cuts would be measured in millions not billions.
I would like to know, and members of the Reform Party would like to know, if the finance minister means massive in millions or does he mean massive in billions, or is he in agreement with his Prime Minister.
Who is actually deciding how much the cuts will be for the next budget?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec
Mr. Speaker, the statements I made and the statements of the Prime Minister flow directly from the budget document. We said that the cuts that were made in the budget were sufficient to bring us to the 3 per cent of GDP.
As well the budget talked about the large reform that was going to be carried on by the Minister for Public Service Renewal looking at it program by program.
That is the position of the government. It is very important to understand that it has not only been set out on countless occasions by the Prime Minister and by myself, it was also set out in the budget, and it is a position that we set out in the red book.
In other words what we said before the election we are carrying through after the election.
Presence In The GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of Dr. Ejup Ganic, Vice President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Presence In The GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I also draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Eduard Kukan, Foreign Affairs Minister of the Slovak Republic.
