House of Commons Hansard #89 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was patriotes.

Topics

Indian AffairsOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Sault Ste. Marie Ontario

Liberal

Ron Irwin LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Mr. Speaker, I totally agree with the member. He probably knows me well enough now that when I put out money I want to see a product and I am looking for stricter fiscal regimes.

As part of self-government negotiations we are looking at those things. There may be more freedom as far as jurisdiction is concerned but there has to be more strict fiscal regimes, improved fiscal responsibility and a better database synchronizing the collection of the data so that it comes in at one time. This will ensure there are stricter regimes, not only for aboriginal people but for the employees at DIAND who are doing the analysis. I agree with him. It is there. It is being studied. There will be work plans out that my friend can examine because the First Nations will be examining them over the next two or three years.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB

Mr. Speaker, the minister of immigration has on several occasions said that immigrants who commit crimes are few and far between.

This is no comfort to the family of Constable Todd Baylis of the Toronto police department who was gunned down last week by an immigrant who had been ordered deported in March 1991.

Can the minister tell the House how it is that after having been ordered out of the country and after having an appeal denied, this 10-time repeat criminal could still be in Canada to commit the terrible crime for which he is now charged?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the minister of immigration and all members of the House, I want to express our real sympathy for the very tragic circumstances and give all our condolences to the family of Constable Baylis who was tragically killed on the weekend.

As the House knows, the minister of immigration has just introduced new immigration legislation which is designed specifically to provide for more effective tools of enforcement. I am told by him that his department was successful in both getting a deportation order and also having any recourse to appeal dismissed.

However, the hon. member should recognize that in many cases and in particular this case the Canadian government has difficulty in obtaining travel documents from other countries to which the deportee has been assigned. As a result the minister of immigration is now seriously investigating this case to ensure that these kinds of practices do not continue.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Reform

Deborah Grey Reform Beaver River, AB

Mr. Speaker, we do appreciate the concern on the government side but this just continues to happen week after week after week. We bring in examples of this.

I believe these particular reforms would have had no effect in this case. Clinton Gayle was ordered deported but that order, like thousands more, was not carried out.

Under this minister, staff on the front lines have been cut and as a result only 40 per cent of deportation orders are being carried out. There are now only 30 officers responsible for the deportation of 40,000 illegal immigrants in Toronto.

Will the minister admit that his alleged deportation reforms are virtually useless because of his cuts to enforcement and will he accept accountability for this latest, needless tragedy.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, I would if I might be allowed to repeat one important fact in this case. The government did obtain a deportation order. However, in order to have deportation orders

carried out we must rely on the co-operation of both the country of origin and also air lines.

Apparently in this case the co-operation was not forthcoming. That is why we are carrying out an investigation. The new enforcement rules built into the new legislation can be of some substantial assistance.

In the specific question of the hon. member, it is not true that the effect of this case was as a result of any cutbacks in enforcement. The restructuring has been going on to reduce the amount of money assigned to administration. It has no impact whatsoever on field staff who are the key players in this kind of operation.

We are trying to cut back on the administrative bureaucratic side so resources can be freed up for more effective enforcement.

Job DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Bloc

Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC

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

Last Thursday, as part of a concerted effort, nearly 1,000 groups, civic and community organizations as well as national coalitions in Quebec signed a letter to the Minister of Human Resources Development urging him to: "maintain the regular component of the job development program as long as no other alternative has been put in place".

Does the minister intend to follow up this pressing demand from the signatory organizations, given the essential role these front-line organizations play in their relations with the less fortunate, and in particular people who have no jobs and no income?

Job DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, I would be very happy to take representations from these organizations because certainly I agree with the hon. member that they play a very important role in helping to combat unemployment.

However I would like to point out to the hon. member, as I have in the past, that we have been looking at alternatives. One of the most important reallocations, redirections, we have been making is to target specifically the problem of youth unemployment.

We all recognize the great tragedy that takes place when young people are unable to get the resources they need to be properly trained, to have access to the workplace, to make that transition between school and work.

Yes, we are making some reallocations but because of the very deep and serious plight of young people, it is a very worthy objective. We will certainly meet with these groups to discuss how they can assist in helping us to meet that objective.

Job DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Bloc

Francine Lalonde Bloc Mercier, QC

Mr. Speaker, does the minister not realize on the one hand that these groups have developed an extremely valuable expertise in employability, and in particular in the employability of young people, and on the other hand, as they say, that cuts in programs to develop job skills readiness jeopardize the very existence of essential services to those who have been hit hard, often the hardest, by the last recession?

Job DevelopmentOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, just to make the record clear, in fiscal 1994-95, the year we are in now, we have allocated over $800 million of funds specifically for the province of Quebec. That is an increase over last year. There have been no cutbacks. We have increased the funds and we are devoting a substantial proportion of federal expenditures.

I must say that I am very pleased to have the member, the very outstanding and very competent critic for employment matters from the Bloc Quebecois, once again requesting federal involvement and federal resources for employment in Quebec.

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Reform

Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice is using public opinion polls to justify the imposition of harsher gun controls against law-abiding Canadians in his effort to reduce the criminal use of firearms. These same opinion polls support the return of capital punishment.

Is the minister consistent in his adherence to public demand or does he heed it only when it fits his own personal philosophy and that of the Liberal cabinet?

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, no part of the government's justice agenda is determined or established by public opinion polls.

Our focus during the six months that Parliament has been in session has been in fulfilling the undertakings we made during the campaign by introducing legislation to strengthen the Young Offenders Act, by strengthening the sentencing laws and by

introducing last week a bill that included literally 100 amendments to the Criminal Code to improve and modernize it.

The hon. member raises the question of capital punishment. We ran for election last year on a very specific platform in justice matters. This government, instead of looking at polls as suggested by the hon. member, is concentrating on fulfilling those commitments.

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Reform

Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, the former government that refused to listen to the people is now sitting with two people in behind us. I suggest that he should be listening to the people.

My supplementary question is this. In light of the shooting death of Toronto police constable, Todd Baylis, and in view of the consistent public demand for the return of capital punishment, would the minister be willing to support a binding referendum on capital punishment, tying it in with the next federal election to eliminate the cost?

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, let me say two things. First of all we were elected last year on a platform which did not include the restoration of capital punishment.

As recently as seven years ago the House debated capital punishment at length and on a free vote decided it should not be restored. That is the first observation.

Second, the hon. member speaks of consistency. I would ask him to be consistent. He has referred to the tragic case of last Thursday in which a police officer was shot to death. Preliminary indications are that the weapon used in that murder was a hand gun that was stolen from someone who owned it lawfully and had it registered. Now if that is not further indication of the need for gun control, I would like to hear what is.

Program For Older Worker AdjustmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Daviault Bloc Ahuntsic, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. On June 3, the House was presented with a private member's bill to modify the program for older worker adjustment. This bill was intended to make companies that lay off more than 20 workers eligible, thus ending the discrimination against Montreal textile, clothing and retail workers in particular.

Can the Minister of Human Resources Development tell us why his department refuses to modify POWA to benefit Montreal workers, when he presented a bill extending eligibility for fishery workers? What justifies this double standard?

Program For Older Worker AdjustmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, one thing of which the hon. member should be aware is that the specific program for older workers is a joint federal-provincial program run by both levels of government.

Any changes we would want to contemplate would have to be done in close consultation and co-operation with the provinces. It certainly would be one of the major agenda items we would pursue during our discussion of social security reform.

Program For Older Worker AdjustmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Daviault Bloc Ahuntsic, QC

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us if he agrees with his colleague, the member for Saint-Léonard and government whip, that POWA should be universal and have no eligibility criteria for laid off workers?

Program For Older Worker AdjustmentOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member points out, the private member's comments came from our chief whip. I have learned over my 22 years of parliamentary experience never to disagree with the chief whip.

Great Lakes Sport FisheryOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Liberal

Roger Gallaway Liberal Sarnia—Lambton, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

The fishing industry on the Great Lakes is used by four million anglers, generates $2 billion to $4 billion annually and supports some 75,000 full time jobs.

Now there is evidence to suggest that the sea lamprey eel is making a strong comeback in the Great Lakes. What is being done by the government to address this problem before it gets totally out of hand?

Great Lakes Sport FisheryOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right. The Great Lakes sport fishery is a multibillion dollar industry and it ought to be acknowledged by the Government of Canada when it makes policies in fisheries and oceans.

For that reason I am pleased to announce on behalf of the government today a 33 per cent increase in our financial commitment to preserving this multibillion dollar industry.

The control program comes under a joint U.S.-Canada commission. Recently I had discussions with the U.S. ambassador to discuss this matter, among others, and I an confident that the United States will announce a similar increase on their side as well.

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC

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

In the wake of the tragic murder of Constable Todd Baylis, the Solicitor General stated that the killing pointed out the need for tighter gun control. Yet information released in the wake of the shooting indicates that the man who apparently shot Constable Baylis was already in illegal possession of the gun.

Could the minister advise the House how tighter gun control would have prevented the shooting?

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:40 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I rely on press reports in pointing out that the weapon used in the crime was a handgun.

The indications as I said earlier at least preliminary are that the handgun was initially purchased by a person with lawful intent who registered it according to the law, had it in a residence from which it was stolen.

I invite the hon. member to observe with me the logical connection between the presence of that handgun in a community from which it was taken by someone with criminal intent and the fact that it wound up allegedly being used in the commission of a murderous crime. The connection is quite obvious.

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, my supplemental is also for the Minister of Justice.

In a recent joint sting operation by a number of Ontario police departments, 17 handguns were purchased illegally. Sixteen of these guns were illegally smuggled into Canada from the United States.

How would a total ban on handguns prevent criminals from getting their hands on guns?

Gun ControlOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, it is implicit in the hon. member's question that the government intends to look at just one and not all aspects of this issue.

Indeed we have already started to examine specific aspects of the smuggling issue. We do intend to address it effectively and with concrete action but that is only one aspect. It is not only smuggling guns. It is also people with criminal intent stealing weapons from those who lawfully own them in Canada that is a threat to the safety of our communities.

Air TransportationOral Question Period

June 20th, 1994 / 2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Guimond Bloc Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport. The status of French at airports has not improved much since Quebec aviation workers waged their famous fight and managed 20 years ago to obtain the right to communicate in French in Quebec airspace. Let us take, for example, a Transport Canada order on air navigation which barely tolerates the use of French at Canadian airports.

Since the ability to speak in both official languages is at the heart of the Canadian duality, how can the minister justify banning the use of French in air traffic operations in Canada, except in Quebec, while closing Quebec City's terminal control unit, one of only two French-language air control centres in Canada?

Air TransportationOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Acadie—Bathurst New Brunswick

Liberal

Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, if my hon. colleague wanted to be frank with the House of Commons, he would know that 99 per cent of all flights in Quebec airspace are served in the pilot's language of choice. However, when airplanes are flying at an altitude of more than 29,000 feet, there may be, at a certain point, a lack of communications in French.

In general, these airplanes are flying to destinations outside Quebec where they will have to operate in English on arrival. It is the Department of Transport's fiduciary and primary responsibility to ensure the safety of the people using Canada's transportation system, and if the hon. member wants to fight for bilingualism, I would ask him not to do so on the backs of the people who use Canada's transportation system.