House of Commons Hansard #57 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was deal.
Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley East, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
There was a rather disturbing report in La Presse this morning about the government member for Saint-Léonard. Has the Prime Minister personally reviewed the RCMP file and security check on the member in question and, if so, could the Prime Minister assure the House that he is satisfied that there has been no questionable conduct?
Member For Saint-LéonardOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order. There are times when we get into very delicate issues in the House. I would remind all hon. members that in putting questions that there be in no way any hint of attacking the character or integrity of another member of Parliament.
However these questions, as long as they are put within the concept or the precept of the administrative responsibility of the government, of course would be in order. This question I would judge to be in order and I would permit the right hon. Prime Minister to answer.
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I have thoroughly reviewed the situation.
When I became the head of the government, before I formed the cabinet I asked the police to review all members of Parliament on my side. They had a question mark about clients of the member, but they made no allegation against the member at all.
I asked the member if he had done something wrong and he said "no". He asked me: "How can I get this question mark out of my file?" I said: "Let's ask the police to go to the bottom of it". In January the Clerk of the Privy Council informed me that there was absolutely no allegation whatever against the integrity of the member who is the whip.
Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC
Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member. He was the whip of my party when I was in opposition and he was a very good whip. In fact, I asked him to serve again as whip and we can see the result of his work. We have cut $5 million from the perks.
Another good example of how good he is in terms of administration was in 1988. When 55 new members were coming into the House of Commons, the previous administration spent $1.3 million to move members around. This time, with 205 new members in the House, this whip managed to do all that and spent only $185,000. He saved more-
Jean Chrétien Liberal Saint-Maurice, QC
Parliament would be much better off if we had many more Gagliano here.
Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Prime Minister for that unequivocal statement of support for the member.
I believe there is nothing to these reports. Is there some value in the Prime Minister tabling both the preliminary report and the January report in the House so that speculation will be put to rest once and for all?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, there is the rule that we accept the words of a member. It is very unfortunate because I do not know where that leak is coming from.
A leak like that casts a shadow of a doubt over somebody. This gentleman was cleared by everybody. I am surprised the question was even asked. There was a leak. There might be some people making allegations about something that is not true against any one of us here. Just because it is in the press there is a shadow of doubt which is terribly unfair.
In my opinion this gentleman has our support. He has been an excellent member of Parliament and has given me a very satisfactory explanation. I am very proud he is member of my caucus.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. On June 8, 1992, the BioVac company of Quebec submitted an application for the licensing of its BCG-cancer vaccine. After 22 months, this application is still pending. Connaught submitted an application for a similar vaccine on March 2, 1989, and a license was issued after 14 months. This delay in the licensing process is causing serious prejudice to BioVac which stands to lose important contracts.
Could the minister tell us what is delaying unduly the licensing of the Biovac BCG-cancer vaccine?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I cannot comment on what happened in the department before my appointment. However, I can tell you that there are many reasons why delays sometimes occur. In this particular case, I could try to get information and answer some time later. You can be assured that we are trying to serve the Canadian people in the best possible way.
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that I already put this question to the minister in the lobby, but that I am still waiting for an answer. I wish she would explain why the double standards, one for BioVac which, after 22 months, is still waiting for an answer from the department, and one for Connaught which got a license for its vaccine after 14 months.
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, I always try to answer the question of the hon. member. When I have the answer, I will give it to her.
Ted McWhinney Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
The most recent session of the 1993-94 Pacific salmon treaty negotiating round has failed to make any progress. The negotiation with the United States once again is at an impasse. This impasse will have important conservation consequences in 1994 and in future years. It will also have bilateral fisheries and international relations consequences for Canada and the United States.
Would the minister please advise the House what further action the government will take to reach an agreement and to protect Canadian fishermen and Canadian resources under international law?
Pacific Salmon TreatyOral Question Period
Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question on this important and troubling negotiation.
We have done everything we can to move the negotiation forward and to avoid confrontation with the Americans on the Pacific salmon management plan this year. As recently as last week the Prime Minister raised this question directly with the President of the United States as an important unresolved matter between our two countries.
I will be in British Columbia this week meeting with stakeholders in the industry and seeking their advice before Canada proceeds further on this matter.
I can say that the United States is indicating thus far it wants more access to Canadian salmon, to the tune of $60 or $70 million a year more access. It wants Canadian fishermen to have less access to our own salmon and U.S. salmon. In fact it wants the imbalance that has been in place over the last nine years to continue. I can tell the House that is not going to happen.
Stephen Harper Reform Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, today as South Africans are voting in their first genuinely democratic election Canadian democracy has been taking a backward step.
Bill C-18 which is designed to block electoral redistribution until the next century has been roundly condemned in Canada, especially in British Columbia where it has been condemned by all parties, including B.C. Liberals.
My question is for the government House leader. Will the government withdraw its support for Bill C-18 now that public hearings are under way and thereby avoid possible constitutional challenges and an unnecessary confrontation with the Senate?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we are satisfied the bill is constitutional. It has received the support of the House. I look forward to discussing the bill with members of the other place.
Stephen Harper Reform Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am obviously disappointed with this answer.
There has been considerable speculation about the motivation for this bill. The Globe and Mail reported on March 25 that the government House leader promised in a closed meeting of Liberal MPs in early March that he would block electoral redistribution in response to the partisan and political needs of Ontario Liberal MPs.
Will the minister confirm for the House that the meeting reported in the Globe and Mail took place?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I think it is considered to be improper to question motives in this House. The hon. member should know this by now.
Questions have been raised about the suitability of the redistribution process in terms of its recognition of such things as community of interest, geography and so on, in many corners of the House and in many provinces.
Again I want to say I look forward to discussing the bill with members of the other place. When it comes to Ontario Liberal members, they showed in the last election they can do pretty well on their own.
Pierre De Savoye Bloc Portneuf, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health, and I hope I will have better luck than the hon. member for Drummond.
A group of international experts was recently assigned to the Krever Commission on tainted blood to do a comparative study of the best blood supply systems in the world and make recommendations to improve the blood products supply systems in Canada.
Why does the minister provide very substantial amounts of money for these international experts, while the Canadian Hemophilia Society is still waiting to receive the money it needs to adequately represent its own members before the Commission?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Justice Krever who is in charge of the inquiry spends his money as he sees fit, and in fact, he hired these experts. We remain in touch with the commission, and I must say there have been no problems so far. The people who wish to take part in this inquiry have the right, as well as the funding they need, to appear before the commission.
Pierre De Savoye Bloc Portneuf, QC
Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ. The Canadian Hemophilia Society has to lay off staff because the minister has not granted the requisite funding, effectively putting a gag on the society.
Does the minister agree that appointing this committee of experts will do absolutely nothing to shed light on the tainted blood scandal?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, when there is a judicial inquiry the head of that inquiry has much latitude. As far as I know, he is the one who engaged the committee of experts.
The hon. member speaks of the Canadian Hemophilia Society which has asked for further funding. It is under consideration. However, to date none of the people who wished to appear before the Krever commission has been denied the funding necessary to help them.