Debates of March 23rd, 1995

Ethics

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister should have reminded us of that answer if he remembered it.

My supplementary is for the Deputy Prime Minister. How can the Deputy Prime Minister explain that the government's code of ethics makes no reference to the political activities in which senior public servants can engage?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am not surprised to see the Bloc Quebecois fishing for other problems, since it is experiencing problems back home.

I might add that, to make a decision in that regard, we have not found it necessary to hire American lobbyists, as the Parti Quebecois is doing, to explain the referendum project.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Hamilton East, ON]

But I can tell you one thing, Mr. Speaker. I am convinced that the CNTU, among others, supports the right of public servants to give political opinions, in the same way that it is doing concerning the referendum.

Government Operations

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

The government's own Treasury Board manual requires that reports be tabled in the House of Commons annually on the status of contracting out. For two years now the government has failed to release this important information, even though even as far back as 1991-92 this involved over $10 billion in expenditures, $3 billion of which was without competitive process.

Why is the minister disobeying his own guidelines by withholding these reports for two years running?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, there is no withholding of any information. In fact the contracting out issue is under very careful scrutiny by the government operations committee at the moment.

A wealth of information is being provided and the member has full access to it as we attempt to address the whole question and review the appropriateness of the contracting out of government services.

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

Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons we need this information is to do a thorough job in the committee. We cannot do a thorough investigation without the annual reports.

Contracting out can be cost effective and a good way of performing government work. But without the proper supervision, taxpayers and government workers are doubting whether they are getting a good bang for their bucks so to speak.

Is the minister willing to release these rolling targets, as his manual says he should. Could he tell us what day we can expect to see those annual reports?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, we will ensure that what information is available is provided to the hon. member and other members to help them scrutinize this matter in an appropriate fashion.

Let me tell the hon. member that the government has and will continue to ensure the efficient and effective use of taxpayers' dollars. We want to make sure that we are getting good value for the taxpayers' dollars.

Fisheries

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question-

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order. The hon. member for Winnipeg Transcona.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I thought I was at an anti-tax rally for a minute.

My question is for the minister of fisheries. The minister needs a break and to turn his mind from turbot to pickerel for a minute. I would like to ask him a question about the future of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

The minister will know that recommendations have been made by a committee that he struck in order to look into the future of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

What is the intention of the government with respect to this crown corporation? Does he intend to privatize it or provincialize it? Is he going to try to meet the concerns of some native people and others who have had problems with the corporation within the existing framework, which is what I would recommend?

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his question on pickerel. I know he did not want to talk about railways any more.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

He was looking like a pickled pickerel.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

It is starting to sound a little bit fishy.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I take your sanction. No more firing from the hip.

I want to respond to the member by telling him that we are examining the recommendation of the standing committee on fisheries. We are seeking to find a way to give the native communities concerned an opportunity to participate in the fresh fish market, perhaps without some of the current constraints that are in place under the FFMC.

At the same time, we are not going to move rapidly to privatize or dismantle FFMC. We want to hear from all of the fishermen who access its services and all the provinces that have a concern about its future.

We are going to move slowly. We are going to consult clearly and carefully. We are going to consult the member because we find that in due course he usually comes to the right conclusion.

Rail Strike

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Trade. Atlantic Canadians are worried about the impact of the rail strike in our economy. We are frustrated with the attempts of the Bloc and the NDP to delay an end to the rail strike.

Small manufacturers, employees and exporters in Halifax West want the trains moving again and now. Can the minister please make it crystal clear to the opposition what the cost is, what the impact of the strike is on our exporters and what it is costing our country?

[Roy MacLaren, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, Canada reported a record trade surplus in 1994. Again in the month of January there were record export sales. This underlines the importance to Canada of our export trade which is now being adversely affected. It is a vital Canadian interest being damaged by the prolonged rail strike. It is evident to every Canadian except possibly the members of the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP.

If we were to proceed to settle that strike, we could restore the full flow of Canadian exports, including those to the United States. Every working day some $200 million of Canadian exports to the United States are being adversely affected by this prolonged rail strike. We are determined to bring it to an end.

Indian Affairs

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of Indian affairs. Ovide Mercredi and a select group of Indian chiefs in Alberta seem to know more about the minister's secret report on self-government than the House does or the Canadian people do.

Will the minister table this report in the House today?

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

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member was at the press conference and has presumably seen the write ups from yesterday. This is not a secret report nor a cabinet document. These are some discussion points that I have raised with aboriginal leaders across the country.

After I have had these discussions with the aboriginal leadership, as I undertook to do and as I will continue to do, and with the provincial ministers, I will return to cabinet. The hon.

member will then have a report as a cabinet document or a government document before the House.

Official Languages

[Paul Mercier, Bloc, Blainville—Deux-Montagnes, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transport. The day before yesterday, in response to a question from the official opposition, the Minister of Transport said that he would check Air Canada's compliance with the Official Languages Act. The minister's record as far as his department's services in French are concerned is pretty shaky, since the air navigation system still does not to provide services in French throughout Quebec's air space.

Could the minister let us know the results of his enquiries with respect to Air Canada and could he give us the assurance that the future privatization of CN and the air navigation system will not be used as an excuse for lax implementation of the Official Languages Act?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, when another hon. member raised the question with respect to ads placed by Air Canada looking for qualified personnel, the ads clearly stated that bilingualism in one case was required, a third language was an advantage to anybody applying, especially for cabin crew. There is no doubt the application of the Official Languages Act is essential to the operation of Air Canada. It is part of its mandate.

I want to assure my hon. friend the obligation extends to being able to provide service in both official languages on the flights of Air Canada and we expect that will continue.

With respect to the second part of his question concerning the commercialization of the air navigation system and the commercialization of CN, we will undertake to ensure Canadians who speak both official languages will continue to be served in the language of their choice anywhere in the country.