Debates of Nov. 7th, 1995

The Crtc

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

Mr. Speaker, what I would like the minister to tell us is this: Can he personally justify an increase of up to 50 per cent in some cases and can he tell us if he really intends to intercede with the CRTC as he did in September 1994?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, my personal opinion is not of importance in this matter. What will be important is that we will review the decision of the CRTC that was taken after the receipt of considerable evidence, as well as argument made by counsel. We will consider any petitions that may be received by the governor in council in response to the CRTC's decision. With that information before us, we will endeavour to make a decision that is in the best interests of the people of Canada.

Foreign Affairs

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

There appears to be yet another scandal growing in his department, namely, foreign service officers who believe that their shipping privileges entitle them to practise fraud and tax evasion. Over at Canada Customs it is well known that returning foreign service personnel often attempt to smuggle wine and spirits into Canada, not only tax free but with shipping costs paid for by the Canadian taxpayer.

Is the minister aware of this practice? If so, what does he propose to do about it?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to suggest to the hon. member that if he has evidence in this regard and if he is serious with his allegation, he should go outside, make that accusation, stand for it, explain it, and give all the details.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I would suggest the hon. minister request a briefing from his colleague, the Minister of National Revenue.

Foreign service officers have been nailed for declaring 200 to 300 bottles of wine when customs officers have found from 600 to 800 bottles, whole wine cellars. Unfortunately, there is no little form for customs officers to fill out to let DFAIT know what its employees have been up to. Other than having their shipments confiscated, these civil servants are not penalized in any way.

I ask the minister: Is a diplomatic passport a membership card to an elite in order to put themselves above the laws of Canada?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, the foreign service officer returning from overseas is treated just like any other Canadian when it comes to customs examination of their possessions. Any infractions that are found will be prosecuted or treated as appropriate, just as other Canadians are treated.

If the hon. member has any evidence of any particular individual or indeed any organization that is evading the law, I would appreciate that information. Until such time, to come into this House and insult a group of dedicated public servants who work for Canada overseas in our trade and diplomatic missions appears to me to be totally irresponsible and quite uncalled for.

Fisheries

[Anna Terrana, Liberal, Vancouver East, BC]

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

The health minister of British Columbia is quoted as saying that until the hon. minister accepts his constitutional responsibility for protecting salmon there cannot be a workable responsible public consultation process on the cancellation of the Kemano project.

Is the minister aware of what the province has done concerning the cancellation of Kemano? How is the minister fulfilling his constitutional obligations?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for giving notice of this question, important as it is to the people of British Columbia.

The suggestion of the minister of health in British Columbia to the Government of Canada that it is holding up or is stopping a public consultation process is absolutely false. It is an absolute red herring.

The people of British Columbia should know that the Government of British Columbia and Alcan have engaged in secret negotiations. They have prepared a secret report on the outcome of these negotiations. They have refused to give that report to the Government of Canada or to any other interested stakeholder.

I would say to the Government of British Columbia that managing the salmon resource is not a bingo game, it is not a game of chance. It has to be done properly and it should be done openly.

Social Housing

[Jean-Paul Marchand, Bloc, Québec-Est, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec accounts for 25 per cent of the total population of Canada and is home to 29 per cent of those living in inadequate housing in Canada. Yet, in the past five years, it has been allocated only 19 per cent of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation's budget.

My question is for the minister of public works. How can the minister justify the fact that less money is available to the poor in Quebec than in the other provinces and what new way does he have to meet the glaring need for social housing in Quebec?

[David Dingwall, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raises an important question, but I think the record ought to be cleared.

The Government of Quebec chose not to participate in various housing programs over a period of a number of years. For the benefit of the House, it should be noted that the first public housing program was available across the country from 1950 to 1985. Quebec chose not to participate. The second public housing program was available from 1964 to 1985. Quebec chose not to participate until 1968. Despite four lost years, the province still secured almost 25 per cent of the national units. The first rent supplement program was available from 1971 to 1985. Quebec chose not to participate until 1978.

The facts are very clear. The Government of Quebec chose not to participate in these national programs. As a result, the figures to which the hon. member refers are somewhat bogus in view of those facts.

[Jean-Paul Marchand, Bloc, Québec-Est, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's remarks are very hypocritical because, in the last federal budget, there was a $300 million cut in social housing. This department and its minister are heartless. Quebec has lost $950 million over the past five years, yet they have nothing to offer, nothing new to offer in terms of social housing, except for-

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[An hon. member]

And they call themselves Liberals?

[Jean-Paul Marchand, Bloc, Québec-Est, QC]

Exactly, the Liberal government is responsible for these misunderstandings with respect to social housing in Quebec.

In light of the minister's comments and of repeated cuts in social housing, are we to understand that the federal government is officially withdrawing from this area and planning to shift to the provinces and municipalities the responsibility for meeting ever increasing social housing needs?

[David Dingwall, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question. It seems that the facts have struck a rather sensitive nerve in the hon. member.

The House should also be aware that since we have come to office, this terrible minister of housing and the Minister of Finance, it should be clearly stated: $4 million was provided for the Creeson initiative in Montreal; $5 million was paid out for Réparaction programs for 950 households; $5 million for rooming house RRAP; $15 million cost shared for households under Maisons lézardées; private-public partnerships, 13 projects in Quebec. We extended the first home loan insurance program; almost 24 per cent of the take up is in Quebec.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Young Offenders Act

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we have been told by CAVEAT of the details surrounding the brutal murder and rape of Ann Marie Bloskie. Her murderer was six weeks from his 18th birthday when he beat Ann Marie to death with a rock, sexually assaulted her corpse, left her, returned the next day and sexually assaulted her again.

Why did the justice system not demand that this murderer be tried in adult court, since his actions are not actions of a young offender?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Young Offenders Act provided at the time of that offence and since then that young people, age 16 and 17, can be transferred to adult court for a trial on such charges. If transferred to adult court they face adult sentences.

The fact is that the Young Offenders Act contains those provisions. As the hon. member well knows, it is the provinces' responsibility to administer them. It is up to the courts and the prosecutors to apply them.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, if he is referring to Bill C-37, the social engineering that has been done on that Young Offenders Act will change nothing.

At the trial in youth court, learned professionals stated that the murderer's favourite form of entertainment was watching violent non-consensual sex videos and he would require lifelong treatment and counselling. In our new Canada, this murderer would get lifelong treatment while he is in prison.

Since the solicitor general has allowed this murderer to be released, what assurances can he give Canadians that this killer will not jeopardize more Canadian women? Why has the solicitor general not allowed publication of his name so that Canadian women can be protected?

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

Mr. Speaker, steps were taken pursuant to the law, which provides for the names of potentially violent people being released to be provided to police authorities.

It is up to the local police authorities, in light of local privacy laws, to make decisions with respect to the releasing of names. We are encouraging provinces to work out protocols for the releasing of that information. We hope there will be a national system across the country before too long.

Criminal Code

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Kingsway, BC]

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

Over 20 months ago the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice promised that there would be a free vote in the House on the issue of physician assisted suicide and changes to the inhumane provisions of section 241 of the Criminal Code.

Will the minister now tell the House and Canadians, since the Senate has ended its study of the issue, what action he will take to keep his promise and to ensure that this elected House will have an opportunity to fully review and to vote on this profoundly important issue?

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

Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge the hon. member's interest in the subject and I am grateful for the question.

As the hon. member has pointed out, some months have now passed since we have received the report of the Senate committee which discloses how difficult members of that committee found the issues. There was difficulty achieving consensus on some of the most fundamental questions that arose. It is now up to the government to determine where we go from here and how. It is also up to this caucus to discuss how the issue should be approached.

That having been said, I have long since expressed my preference for providing a process within which elected members of Parliament can bring their judgment to bear, as the Prime Minister has said, in a free vote on these questions.

My response to the hon. member is that this caucus in due course will consider how best to proceed from here so that these important issues can be brought forward for consideration.

Development Aid

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Last night CBC Newsworld aired a program entitled ``The Sceptics Journey''. It showed four Canadians who began opposed to foreign development aid but after visiting a number of projects in less developed countries changed their minds.

What is the government doing to make more Canadians aware of the value and success stories of Canadian development aid?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I hope a lot of Canadians will see the film. I certainly appreciate the question of the hon. member that highlighted one aspect of the foreign aid program, the development assistance program that helped tremendously to resolve the problem of poverty in the world.

Privilege

[The Speaker]

I would ask the hon. member for Roberval if his question of privilege relates to question period.