Debates of Feb. 22nd, 1995

Corrections

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, many times the issues that we are very much seized with in this House cause us to use words a little stronger than we might ordinarily use.

I wonder if I could prevail on the hon. member for Wild Rose to withdraw the word "lies" and perhaps use another one, to rephrase his question.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I will do my best but that is really tough because I do not know what else to call these things.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

As tough as it is going to be, would the member please withdraw the word "lies".

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw the word "lies".

Will the minister assure this House that in the future when the officials from his department are asked questions by members of Parliament we can expect to get the facts and not a bunch of fiction?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will seek further information about who told what to the hon. member.

I hope that in future he will also refrain from using fiction in his questions.

The Environment

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

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

Last Monday's federal-provincial meeting on greenhouse gases ended in a resounding failure. Despite the commitments it made at the Rio summit in 1992 and despite the electoral promises in the red book, Canada is stating openly that it cannot do its part in the worldwide effort to reduce greenhouse gases.

While Quebec has already achieved its objectives of stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions, how does the minister justify Canada's preparing to default on its international commitments because of a lack of political will on the part of the federal government and of the rest of Canada?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I repeat what I said last week. Quebec has done exactly what the other provinces have done. Through its minister of the environment, Quebec promised, at our meeting in Toronto, that it would have a Cabinet meeting in order to get an action plan to us by March.

I have not seen this action plan, because none has been forthcoming. I am waiting for Quebec to let us know its stabilization objectives. The government of Canada has its own areas of jurisdiction, and I can assure you that we will attain and exceed the objectives of our action plan.

Here is where we have problems. There are a number of jurisdictions we cannot encroach on. We cannot force a provincial government, like the government of Alberta, for example, to do more than it wants to.

We are, however, doing our part and are patiently awaiting Quebec's action plan, which the government has not yet disclosed, and Cabinet not yet approved, according to the press release issued this week by Mr. Brassard.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the Minister of the Environment that Quebec has done its homework. So you do yours.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

I would ask the hon. member to always address the Chair.

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment. Rather than give in to pressure from the oil industry lobby, would she perhaps agree to follow Quebec's example and ensure that the rest of Canada honours its international obligations in fighting the greenhouse effect?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member may not have received the Parti Quebecois' press release. I will read it to her: "Issued in Quebec City at 2.42 p.m. on February 20, Quebec's plan of action will soon be submitted to Cabinet for approval". It has not been approved yet, and we are impatiently waiting for it, because it is not only a question of stabilization, but much more.

Immigration

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, HIV has taken a recent jump in the Ottawa area mostly in women, mostly in new arrivals to Canada. Does the health minister think it would make any sense to check immigrants for HIV?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as we have mentioned in the House of Commons in the last number of days, all immigrants to Canada undergo the two checks of security and health in addition to the point system.

In the majority of cases where individuals are found to be HIV positive they are refused entry into Canada.

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, HIV is an invisible disease; it cannot be seen. We screen for TB. We screen for hepatitis. We even screen for parasites. Why would we not screen for AIDS?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, the question of health checks has probably not been reviewed in the last 30-odd years.

At the end of last year the government said that one of the more important reviews immigration would be undertaking was an update and review of how health checks were done and for which diseases checks ought to be done automatically.

However, with all respect to the member of Parliament, I think we need to do the review in a sensible and sensitive way. I do not think anybody should rush irresponsibly into this subject matter.

It is being undertaken. It is being done seriously. It is being done the right way, rather than simply playing politics and exploiting diseases for particular gains.

Fisheries

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of fisheries.

The European Union is formally objecting to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization's imposition of quotas for turbot fishing in the North Atlantic. It may encourage European Union member countries to ignore the NAFO limits.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Ted McWhinney, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Members can listen because it affects the west coast too.

Last year, when a similar problem arose on the Pacific coast, the minister took action against U.S. salmon fishing vessels and induced the United States to return to the negotiating table.

Will the minister consider perhaps exercising similar friendly persuasion on the Atlantic coast?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. I think the member's expertise in the area of international law is acknowledged by everyone in the House.

The member is correct that last year we had some difficulties on both the west coast with respect to salmon and on the east coast with respect to Icelandic scallop. Canada took direct action and action by way of negotiations to try to resolve our differences.

This year Canada's jurisdictional rights over Icelandic scallop is acknowledged by the United States, not challenged. This year we have completed the negotiation of a successful agreement governing the transit of Yukon salmon as a consequence of aggressive action last year. This year we are back at the table negotiating on Pacific salmon.

We much prefer to talk. We much prefer to negotiate. We will go to the nth degree to settle our differences by agreement. However we warn all those who are listening that we will not sit and talk while the last fish is being caught.

Firearms Registration

[Pierrette Venne, Bloc, Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice stated on Monday that he was certain the legislation respecting firearms registration could be enforced in aboriginal territories just like everywhere else in Canada.

Since even Statistics Canada census takers claim they cannot carry out their work in aboriginal territory, how can the minister maintain that it will be so easy to register all firearms in Canada?

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

Mr. Speaker, we have been engaged from the outset in discussions with the aboriginal leadership and indeed the discussions continue.

I have every confidence the system of registration of firearms that will be considered and passed by the House will apply and be effective across the country in enhancing community safety in all communities, including the aboriginal communities.

Land Claims

[John Duncan, Reform, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, based on leaked information surrounding the Nishga land claim in northwest B.C., which includes a settlement offer of $125 million and 1,900 square kilometres of land, I understand the negotiations also include a federal offer for a treaty protected commercial fishery. This would provide a government guaranteed industry forever as opposed to a commercial industry.

Could the minister confirm that no commercial fishery will be constitutionally entrenched under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982?

[Ron Irwin, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, the Nishga are probably the most patient first nation in Canada.

In 1903 they started their claim, could not get funding and did it with their own money. They won their case in 1973. They have been waiting 22 years for a settlement. Everything on the table is being negotiated. Nothing is being taken off the table because it might cause the hon. member some discomfort.

I think his time would be better spent if he got behind the Nishga who are in the constituency of one of the Reform critics and help them get through this very difficult time.