Debates of May 26th, 1994

Collège Militaire Royal In Saint-Jean

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, instead of blathering on, does the minister not agree that the problem he is facing right now is the stubborn refusal of his colleague, the Minister of National Defence, to let it be business as usual at the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean, as requested by the Quebec government?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Quite the contrary, Mr. Speaker, the minister of defence has been of great assistance to me during the course of the negotiations. When the final agreement is signed, I think the proof will be there, plain and simple.

Young Offenders Act

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice. The minister has stated on numerous occasions that amendments to the Young Offenders Act will be introduced before the summer recess. Including today, there are 21 legislative days left in this session.

Will the minister tell the House precisely when these amendments will be introduced and, even more important, when the minister expects to see them actually passed into law?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the government remains on track. As we said from the outset we intend to introduce during June changes to the Young Offenders Act. I expect if we have the co-operation of all parties we can enact them into law very quickly.

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, there are specific changes which could be made quickly and easily to the Young Offenders Act. For example, the age parameters of the act could be reduced from the current 12 to 18 years to a proposed 10 to 16 years.

My colleague from New Westminister-Burnaby recently put this proposal forward in the form of an opposition motion but it was defeated by both the government and the Official Opposition.

Why is the minister reluctant to respond decisively to the demands of Canadians by immediately introducing specific amendments to the Young Offenders Act which after consultation with the House leaders could be passed before the summer recess?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the decisiveness of the government will be shown with the legislation we will bring forward here. But as I have made clear to the House on past occasions, we intend to deal with the Young Offenders Act in two ways. First, is the introduction of the legislation that will contemplate specific changes and which we are going to ask this House to consider for immediate implementation.

Second, I am going to turn over the statute in its entirety to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs with a request that in this the 10th year of its operation that statute be looked at thoroughly from one end to the other, that the committee hear witnesses, hear the concerns of Canadians, speak to those most affected by this legislation and decide once and for all whether in current circumstances the Young Offenders Act remains the best model for juvenile justice for Canada.

Those are the two steps we are taking. The first is a bill for specific changes at the outset and, second, a thorough review in the course of the coming months through the standing committee.

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I still have some very real concerns because for nine years under the Tories Canadians heard all the promises that action on the Young Offenders Act was a government priority. The recent announcement by the Solicitor General that the promised registry for child abusers will be delayed has created speculation that the Liberal government may be issuing the same hollow promises.

Will the minister reassure Canadians that the well publicized split within his party on this issue will not derail his commitment to immediate, and I emphasize immediate, reform to the Young Offenders Act which the House could deal with promptly?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I can report that there is no split within this party on the changes being made to the Young Offenders Act.

The fact is that we are acting on campaign commitments in introducing the changes that are contained in the bill that will be put before this House within the coming weeks.

So far as the national registry is concerned, I am constrained to correct the impression left by the hon. member that that proposal is in some way being derailed or delayed. The fact is that we will be releasing today or tomorrow the discussion paper which was referred to in the House on the steps to be taken to create the registry. In consultation with Canadians, members of the House and our provincial counterparts, this government is going to design and put in place, probably through an adaptation of the existing CPIC technology to begin with, a registry of child sexual abusers that will be available for use in the fall of this year.

Social Program Reform

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. The statements made by the Auditor General of Canada confirm that the Minister of Human Resources Development has launched a reform of social programs without the information required to make a real diagnosis. The Auditor General also deplored the lack of co-operation between Ottawa and the provinces.

Does the minister admit, as the Auditor General points out, that he has launched a reform of social programs before he was ready and that his haste can only be explained by his eagerness to meet the budget requirements of the finance minister, who has found no better way to reduce his deficit than to make the poorest people pay?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reply to the hon. member by quoting the Auditor General himself. He said, "I find nothing wrong with his approach". The answer is clear. The Auditor General does not have a problem with our approach. He asked for other assessments and I agree with him. That is why we have an agreement with all the provinces to exchange information on social programs.

[Francine Lalonde, Bloc, Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given that this reform of social programs is not included in the red book, that the Liberals did not bother to get the information at that time and that they are not mandated to carry out this reform, does the minister admit that the reform must be based on the full satisfaction of the provinces and that they must therefore be closely involved in the process, unlike what has been done so far?

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

Mr. Speaker, in the last week we have had a report from Statistics Canada based upon a very substantial evaluation showing that the unemployment insurance system has a very strong impact upon the way jobs are created in this country, a detrimental impact.

We have had a major report from the Centre for Policy Alternatives based upon two studies of economists in Quebec saying that there is a substantial cost to unemployment in the country. We received a report just yesterday from the Family Planning Council in Toronto which says:

Unless we develop innovative programs to ensure that young families do not become outsiders, Canada's future is truly endangered.

There were three specific reports in the last week that point to the fundamental need to reform our social programs. Our mandate comes from people who are concerned about the future of this country, not the opposite side who have no concern about Canada.

Health Care

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

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

Last week the four western premiers jointly requested that one of the 10 premiers should co-chair the upcoming forum on health care with the Prime Minister.

Health care is a provincial responsibility and the provinces pick up the large bulk of the health care tab. On this basis, does the Minister of Health agree that the premiers deserve better access not only to health care but also to decision making and that one of the premiers should co-chair this important upcoming meeting?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am quite pleased to answer the hon. member's request.

The national forum on health is meant to be an advisory body to the Prime Minister and to this government. However there is a place for the ministers of health both federally and provincially to discuss matters and to make decisions. There is also a place for premiers to meet, discuss and make decisions.

We certainly are not in any way wishing to take away the powers of the premiers as they meet and discuss issues nor do we want to take away the decision making process of the ministers of health.

The national forum on health will look at long term issues rather than the day to day occurrences within the health system and health. Remember, I am the Minister of Health, not just the minister of health care.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.

On Tuesday the Minister of Health said that she was forced to withhold health care funds from B.C. because she had a duty to enforce the Canada Health Act.

Another provision of that act the federal government conveniently ignores is its commitment in that act for funding for 50 per cent of health and health care costs. At present the federal government funds less than 35 per cent of those total costs.

Could the minister explain why she vigorously enforces some portions of the Canada Health Act while conveniently allowing the federal government to ignore its commitment under that act to funding 50 per cent of all health care costs?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest that the hon. member look more closely at the Canada Health Act. The Canada Health Act has five principles. It does not mention a percentage of funding.

During the last election as part of our red book we clearly stated that we supported the principles of the Canada Health Act and yes, we stood by them, unlike the party across the way which during the last election made absolutely no mention of the fact that it was in favour of extra billing and a two tier health system.

We were very clear on our stand. I say to that party, shame.

Hepatitis C

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health. On May 11, the minister said in this House: "It might be in the best interest of all Canadians who fear they might have contracted Hepatitis C due to a blood transfusion to be in contact with their physicians. That would be very advantageous to anyone who fears that."

Beyond this amazing statement, has the minister decided to assume her responsibilities and ask officials in her department to ensure that people who might be infected are finally contacted?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we now have a commission of inquiry on blood. This commission is sitting today and considering all issues related to possible problems with blood transfusions.

I tell you, Mr. Speaker, that all these issues concern us.

We want to do all we can to support the Krever Commission. That is what we are doing and we very much look forward to their report. We know that the commission will give us some guidelines and we will consider the issue within that timeframe.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, those infected with Hepatitis C are victims of the worst negligence in the history of Canada's health care system and 75 per cent of them still do not know that they are infected.

Despite what the official in charge of the Bureau of Biologics in her department said, does the minister know that there is a treatment to help carriers of Hepatitis C and that this fully justifies her taking immediate action to reach these people?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, concerning all of the problems with diseases that may be transmitted through blood transfusions, I am happy to say we have taken these questions so seriously. We have agreed to extend the timeframe for Judge Krever to report to us. We understand that he needs to do a very in-depth study of all of these questions.

I am pleased to say that we will also consider giving him additional funding to meet these extended deadlines.

Electoral Boundaries

[Stephen Harper, Reform, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Acting Prime Minister.

Yesterday the Senate approved amendments to Bill C-18 to ensure that riding redistribution takes place before the next election. However, the government leader in the Senate indicated that one of the problems with the current process was the lack of supervision of the independent, non-partisan boundary commissions.

Could the Acting Prime Minister explain what sort of supervision the government thinks is required? Why does the government not support the independence of the independent commissions?

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

Mr. Speaker, the government supports the concept of an independent arm's length setting of riding boundaries.

We have said however that the process for doing this has not been thoroughly reviewed since it was created in 1964 and that is why the House has agreed with our proposal that this be looked at by the procedure committee of the House of Commons. I look forward to the early report of that committee.

[Stephen Harper, Reform, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the government supports the independence of the commissions which have now virtually completed their work at a cost of over $5 million.

Surely killing the process is not a serious priority for this government. Could the Acting Prime Minister assure the House that the only reason left for stopping this redistribution again would be to follow the suggestion of my party echoed by the Minister of National Revenue that the number of seats in the House of Commons be capped or reduced?

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

Mr. Speaker, the suggestion of the hon. member is one that deserves to be looked at by the House of Commons procedure committee.

Before one makes a decision on that, one has to consider the impact of capping or reducing the number of seats on the expectations of people in certain parts of Ontario where populations have grown and the expectations of people in the province of British Columbia where populations have grown for additional seats.

It is interesting for the people in British Columbia to hear from the Reform Party that it does not want additional representation for the people in that province.

Hepatitis C

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

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

The Krever commission has already been sitting for six months and will probably be sitting for a while yet. In the meantime, the life of some Canadians is in danger. Again, I ask the minister: What does she intend to do to warn those who are in good health?