House of Commons Hansard #235 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was rail.
Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Yes. It is far from being too good to be true, nothing has changed. Is this not, based on the words of the minister himself, a good reason to vote yes?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec
Mr. Speaker, that was written when we were not in government. We have made a complete change in direction since then.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the hon. member, the one quoting Le Hir, for at last quoting someone credible.
Bonnie Hickey Liberal St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, day after day we hear Reform members criticize regional economic development especially in Atlantic Canada. I am an Atlantic Canadian and I would like to know the facts.
My question is for the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Can the minister tell the House and my constituents what ACOA's success rate is, what concrete benefits it brings to the region and what is his response to the criticism from the third party?
David Dingwall LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the government committed itself both in the throne speech and in subsequent budgets to developing strong regional economies.
Regional development agencies by their very nature are decentralized institutions committed to working with the private sector, provincial governments, universities and other community organizations.
In Atlantic Canada, ACOA has been able to facilitate the private sector and its success rate is approximately 94 per cent.
I said to committee members that there are bound to be setbacks. There will probably be setbacks in the future, but at a success rate of 94 per cent when the federal government contributes one dollar under that particular agency it generates $4.20.
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, the criminal element in Ipperwash has led insurance companies to declare that the whole area of Ipperwash is an area of insurrection and rebellion. The solicitor general has decided to pass the buck and lay blame at the feet of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Now the provincial police is on a heightened state of alert because of a potential land grab by militant natives at the 2,000-acre Pinery Provincial Park this Thanksgiving weekend.
Will the solicitor general declare these renegades a national security threat and deal with them immediately? When will the minister put the safety of Canadians ahead of the interests of thugs and criminals?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the matter is clearly under the jurisdiction of the Ontario provincial government through its police of local jurisdiction, the Ontario Provincial Police.
If the Ontario government through the Ontario Provincial Police feels that it needs assistance, there are recognized procedures in place to request such assistance. If a request is made it will be given very active and immediate consideration.
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general should do his job and make sure that the law is applied equally. Ipperwash is just one example of organized criminals getting out of control.
Since he does not believe it is a national security threat, how about the biker wars in Montreal and Toronto? These wars are being waged over the control of the drug trade, gun smuggling, prostitution and other contraband. The pipeline for this contraband is Akwesasne, Oka and Kanesatake.
If he does not believe this is a national security threat, will the solicitor general tell Canadians what is a national security threat, what is organized crime, and his reasons for not acting?
Herb Gray LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, under our Constitution the administration of justice is a provincial responsibility. The federal government cannot simply walk in and tell the Ontario Provincial Police or the Quebec Provincial Police to leave and let somebody else do their job. If they feel they need assistance there are provisions in place for that assistance to be requested and, if so, it will be responded to in a quick and effective way.
We are there to help law enforcement across the country. We want to see the laws enforced in an equitable and firm way across the country, but we are not in a position to tell, like the hon. member, that we do not think the Ontario Provincial Police or the Quebec Provincial Police can do its job. I am sure he should have, as a former member of a local police force, more respect for and confidence in similar police forces across the country.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources. Since the last federal election, Quebec has been awarded only 13 per cent of the research and development contracts of the Department of Natural Resources. Turning the clock back a little, Quebec has received under 10 per cent of research and development contracts for the past six years, a shortfall for the Quebec laboratory industry and Quebec researchers of tens of millions of dollars. Another good reason, Mr. Prime Minister, for a yes vote.
Because the Minister of Natural Resources has long been aware of the situation, what steps has she taken to ensure that Quebec obtains its full share of research and development contracts from her department?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, let me provide the hon. member this afternoon with some very good reasons why Quebecers should vote to stay in Canada.
In the Department of Natural Resources we have a substantial presence in the province of Quebec. Let me share with the hon. member some examples: our annual contribution to Forintek Canada, which recently established its eastern office in Quebec City; funding provided to the Centre canadien de fushion magnétique; the establishment of the Canadian Centre for Geomatics in Sherbrooke; and let us not forget the work done at the Varennes laboratories pertaining to energy efficiency and alternative energy.
The financial infusion of my department into Quebec is strategic and represents targeted investments that will ensure not only Quebec's long term economic future but the future of our nation.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC
Mr. Speaker, that only amounts to 13 per cent, which is peanuts. You know very well that Quebec is being had all down the line.
Research And DevelopmentOral Question Period
The Speaker
Dear colleague, you must always address the Chair.
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
So the minister knows very well that Quebec has been had all down the line in research and development. Ten or thirteen per cent is far from our share. She could give us a long list; we would not be impressed.
My supplementary question is for the Prime Minister. Mr. Prime Minister, how do you justify-
Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC
Pardon me. I should address you, Mr. Speaker. I got it wrong. I am all mixed up today.
How does the Prime Minister justify his minister and his government's inaction in a matter in which Quebec is clearly wronged?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Natural Resources clearly showed a few minutes ago that she was not at all mixed up.
In Canada, we always try for a balance in all areas possible, but it is mathematically impossible for the proportions to be the same in each area for each province. Some provinces are smaller, some are bigger. It depends on circumstances. On the whole, however, the distribution of laboratories, research and development in Canada has been very fair. When I visit Quebec, I realize some sectors have benefited enormously from research and development in Canada. Aeronautics, as I said earlier, is concentrated in Quebec. In the Montreal region, Canadair is expanding considerably. Pratt & Whitney is another of the major specialty firms. It has gained a reputation for manufacturing engines not only in Canada, but throughout America.
So we do a lot and we will do even more in the future, that is certain, because once the situation in Canada becomes extremely stable, as it will on October 31, Canada will enjoy a new period of prosperity, and we will be able to share even more.
Jim Gouk Reform Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government subsidizes VIA Rail to the tune of over $800,000 a day.
Last spring VIA ran a 50 per cent off special. The consequences of this action were twofold. First, privately run bus companies were forced to lay off workers due to the fact they could not compete with twice subsidized rates. Second, the Canadian taxpayer ended up paying for the 50 per cent cuts. Now VIA is at it again offering 50 per cent off rates for the winter and the fall.
My question is for the Minister of Transport. When will he do the responsible thing and put an end to this grotesque abuse of taxpayers' dollars?
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the future of passenger rail in the country is certainly in doubt. When we look at what the hon. member has just suggested in terms of the overall subsidy paid to VIA Rail and to other non-VIA passenger services, we have to be extremely careful about
how we will handle the very strong demand on Canadian taxpayers for a subsidy.
Surely even the hon. member would agree that since VIA is running trains on a number of corridors throughout the country we should try to keep them as full as possible and try to avoid as much of a drain as possible on Canadian taxpayers.
Jim Gouk Reform Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC
Mr. Speaker, once again the government is competing against the private sector and using taxpayers' dollars to do so. There is only one way to deal with the situation: privatize VIA Rail and end the squandering of public funds.
When will the Minister of Transport make the logical and ethical decision and introduce legislation that will commence the privatization of VIA Rail?
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, I have already indicated that as the budget called for last year Transport Canada is looking at all its activities and all areas in which we have subsidies.
I am glad to see the hon. member believes we should be eliminating subsidies. I hope he will speak to some of his colleagues who are having second thoughts about some of the subsidies that have been eliminated so far.
I assure the hon. member that we will be taking into account the need to look at the future of VIA.
Now that the province of Ontario, the province of Quebec and the Government of Canada have made public the report on high speed rail, we believe the time has come to look very carefully at what the future of VIA and other passenger services in the country should be. Certainly, as has been the case in the past, we will be looking at privatization as one of those options.
Julian Reed Liberal Halton—Peel, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Revenue.
Canadians expect a lot from Canada Customs in its responsibility for our international border. On the one hand we expect it to keep our streets and communities safe from smuggled guns, drugs and pornography. On the other hand we expect customs to speed the passage of tourists and goods into Canada because tourism and trade mean jobs in this country.
What is the Minister of National Revenue doing to improve service at Canada's borders?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, the member is quite right that we do expect a lot from Canada Customs. Indeed it performs very well. It is one of the best customs services in the world.
Recently we worked on the accord between the President of the United States, Mr. Clinton, and the Prime Minister of Canada with respect to making the border easier for people who are regular travellers and those who pose no great risk to either country.
We have instituted a number of programs, CANPASS for the airports, CANPASS for rail and land traffic, CANPASS for boats, which allow people to get across the border substantially faster than before. At the same time it frees up resources for special teams where we feel there are areas of higher risk. It is this weeding out areas of higher risk from those of lower risk which we think will be the future of our services.
René Canuel Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.
In a letter to the Minister of Natural Resources, a group of Quebec organizations, including the Union des municipalités du Québec, is demanding $80 million from the federal government to compensate for its complete withdrawal from the funding of the private forestry sector by April 1996.
Does the Minister of Natural Resources intend to agree to the Quebec partners' request and to compensate the thousands of Quebec forestry workers abandoned by the federal government?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member well knows because of his interest in the forestry sector in Quebec, it was the previous government that decided to cancel FRDA or Federal-Provincial Forest Resource Development Agreements. Because of the sorry state of the finances of the nation left to us by the previous government, we had no choice but to confirm that decision of the previous government. Therefore FRDA will expire across the nation as their due dates come upon us.
Let me say that because of program review my department had to reassess its priorities. The Department of Natural Resources is not a department of regional economic development. It is primarily a department of science and technology. We are working very closely with our provincial counterparts and industry to ensure the forestry sector has the science and technology base it needs to compete with the best in the world.
John Duncan Reform North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, the investigator working with the commission de la jeunesse into allegations of sexual abuse at Lac Barrière reserve is expected to present a draft report to the band today.
The total cost of this is anticipated to exceed $300,000. There is concern that the investigator will provide a copy to the band but present only a verbal whitewash to the public. A verbal report is not good enough.
Could the minister assure the House that the public will get a written report rather than the most expensive speech it has ever paid for?
