Debates of Sept. 23rd, 1994

Health

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

The health minister has stated that Canada's blood supply system does not need to have as strict standards as those in the U.S. Frankly, that is hogwash. Will the minister raise her standards so that all Canadians will once again feel safe?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, our system of blood collection is among the best in the world. What is happening with the FDA, and I will repeat it again, is a question of different regulations to meet different systems, one system not being superior to the other.

That being said, we are working with the FDA to harmonize those regulations, which would help us ship plasma to the States. We are going to continue to look at any possible way that we can improve the safety of our blood supply.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is actually the first time I have heard the minister say that she is concerned about an improvement to the system which she has continually said is excellent and needs no changes. Frankly the patients, the people of Canada, expect no more hidebound, old fashioned statements. Rather, they would prefer to see changes that will improve our system.

Will this minister stop making those old fashioned statements that simply try to cover her tracks?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I have been very clear during this whole debate. We have taken every step since I have been minister of health to ensure that we are using everything we know to guarantee the safety of the blood supply and we will continue to do that.

It bothers me a great deal to have responsible people continuing to spread uncertainty when every day in every hospital across this land our blood supply system saves lives. Let us continue to encourage donors to move forward and donate their blood to continue to give the gift of life.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. At the press conference announcing the appointment of Mr. Manera as president of the CBC, the heritage minister said that the government was committed to making no further cuts in the CBC's government funding.

How can the minister, who claims to be a great friend of this institution, justify his about-face and go back on his February 3 commitment by announcing that it would be hard for him not to cut the CBC's budget?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to note our colleague's interest in the CBC, this great federal institution which promotes our culture from coast to coast.

If she is referring to decisions that have been made, I would like to know what these decisions are. What was said earlier this year has not changed, so I think she is indulging in speculations she may have heard elsewhere. However, no changes or decisions have been made that contradict what we said earlier.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is quite obvious that it has not been announced, as the Minister of Canadian Heritage's colleague was saying. The budget has not been announced yet, but there is no smoke without fire. When we read in the newspaper that it will be difficult to avoid cutting the CBC's budget by 5 per cent to 8 per cent, it is a warning of things to come.

Only yesterday, the vice president, Mr. Pineau, clearly said to the heritage committee that cuts were coming. So they should stop treating us like fools. Does the minister confirm that these cuts, if they are implemented, would mostly affect the services offered to Canada's francophone and Acadian communities?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I think that our colleague is worrying about smoke. I did not know she planned a career change from member of Parliament to firefighter.

I think that if she wants to help this great institution, the CBC-which she herself is working on as a member of the parliamentary committee currently reviewing the CBC-she should say frankly that she is happy that this institution is working to promote Canadian unity and ask it to do even more.

Public Service

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we have heard reports of infighting within the Liberal cabinet over a plan to uproot public servants and ship them to the east coast. On the one hand the Minister of Public Works and Government Services wants to move them to his hometown in Atlantic Canada while opposing ministers of public renewal and industry and others say, and I think the quote is: "You do not move departments around just for the fun of it".

Will the minister of government renewal bring this dispute to an end by stating categorically that there are no longer any plans to ship parts of the civil service to the east coast?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I want to categorically assure you and members of this House that there is no division on this issue within cabinet.

The administration of the federal government is complex. We have hundreds of thousands of employees. Perhaps on a supplementary my colleague the President of the Treasury Board might address some of the more specific issues relating to public servants.

As the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs has noted, we are planning to reshape government and reorder our financial priorities. This will be done in an orderly fashion. Certainly the statements made by my colleague the Minister of Public Works and Government Services are in no way at odds with government policy.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if they are listening to their own reports. The Minister of Public Works and Government Services has established a committee with very specific instructions. The instructions are: To develop an action plan to enhance the government presence in Atlantic Canada. That is pretty much at odds with the plan that says: "We will reorganize the civil service on the basis of cost effectiveness and efficiency".

Will the Minister of Public Works and Government Services fall into line with the latter, which is cost effectiveness, and state today that he will disband this committee that is merely looking to enhance his own political future?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, all of the ministers in the government have been charged with looking at their own departments, the administration and the saving of money. The Minister of Public Works and Government Services is doing what everyone else is doing. They are looking line by line at the budget to see where savings can be made.

We make no apologies. As a national government we are proud that there are public servants across this country, not just in Ottawa.

The hon. member should not read something into what is in effect a legitimate task assigned by a government minister to deal with a very difficult situation.

French-Speaking Community

[Gaston Leroux, Bloc, Richmond—Wolfe, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

After deciding not to implement a real comprehensive policy for the development of the French-speaking community, despite the request of the Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities, the Minister of Heritage finally brought forth a policy. The policy that emerged from his drawing board is nothing more than an action plan to meet his own obligations under part VII of the Official Languages Act.

Can the minister tell us how and in what way his action plan will develop the francophone community?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I think that the hon. member should have talked more to Francophones and Acadians across Canada. He would have the answer, because they are the ones who called for the application of the sections of the Official Languages Act. They applauded it, when we decided to mobilize the Canadian government in support of Francophones and Acadians throughout the country.

[Gaston Leroux, Bloc, Richmond—Wolfe, QC]

Mr. Speaker, can the minister tell us how he can boast about his action plan when no funding has been provided and no new program has been set up?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the hon. member has understood nothing about this action plan. Perhaps he should look at it a little more closely and then he might understand that what we will do is mobilize resources throughout the Canadian government to support the development of official-language minority communities. That is what he should understand.

Peacekeeping

[Beryl Gaffney, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

On Wednesday this House debated Canada's peacekeeping role under the UN banner with a view to reaching a decision on Canada's commitments. Will the minister please explain to this House today if a decision has been made with regard to peacekeeping in Bosnia-Hercegovina, the former Yugoslavia and, if so, the reasons behind his decision?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member does note that we had a very good debate with expressions of points of view on all sides. I think it is the general consensus that Canada wishes to remain active in United Nations peacekeeping engagements.

I have outlined in my speech that the resources of the Department of National Defence have been considerably strained over recent times. However, there is the capability within the Canadian Armed Forces to take on a number of engagements.

Yes, the government has decided that Canadian troops will stay in the former Yugoslavia, Croatia and Bosnia for another six months.

We have decided to renew for a further six months our engagement in those two former republics of Yugoslavia.

I would like to put some words of caution here. We have made this decision but it is subject to review if the situation on the ground changes or if the political or military situation calls into question the safety of Canadian troops or the usefulness of the UNPROFOR mandate.

Security Intelligence Review Committee

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

Mr. Speaker, in July 1992 the Security Intelligence Review Committee issued a top secret section 54 report to the then Solicitor General, Doug Lewis. The report was entitled: "Domestic Terrorism Targets".

Has the ministry reviewed this report and if so, can the parliamentary secretary advise the House if there is any mention of the Reform Party within this report?

[Patrick Gagnon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I guess members across the way have been waiting for me to stand up for some time.

Responding in Canada's other official language to the question, I am quite aware of what has happened recently. The government is taking into account the report that will be submitted by SIRC to the Solicitor General.

There are also other investigations going on with the Inspector General and we are looking in detail at what happened. I am sure the Solicitor General will respond in due course.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure that the parliamentary secretary understood that this report has already been given. It is a section 54 report that went to the then Solicitor General, Doug Lewis.

Will the parliamentary secretary assure the House that unlike its predecessors, this government will advise legitimate political parties when CSIS learns that groups or individuals deemed to be a threat to national security attempt to infiltrate them?

[Patrick Gagnon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the policy of the government is that we do not condone any investigation of legitimate political organizations. We have made that very clear.

We have also heard from the opposition allegations of all kinds that the government is investigating various political parties. There is none of that.

The Government of Canada and the Solicitor General will make public certain parts of the report that will be handed down. I can assure the hon. member that this Liberal government would not tolerate such actions being taken by our secret service.

Health

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health.

In March 1993, the Canadian government released its funding plan for the second phase of the National AIDS Strategy. Ottawa was to spend $211 million on the strategy over the next five years or $42 million annually. Of those $42 million, $1.5 million were not set aside for specific programs but were to be allocated, at the discretion of the minister, to needs not covered by the strategy.

Could the Minister of Health indicate whether according to plan, in 1994-95, in addition to the $40.7 million for standard programs, $1.5 million will be allocated by the minister to the National AIDS Strategy, as discretionary funding?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, that is the case. We have established a criteria for the $1.5 million, and we will try to follow those criteria. I may add that we have already planned to spend $400,000 of the $1.5 million on a conference to be held in Vancouver at some time in 1996.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as far as the remainder is concerned, could the minister indicate the criteria for allocating these funds and which agencies will benefit?