Debates of March 27th, 1995

Racial Discrimination

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, March 21 to March 28 is the United Nations week of solidarity with the people struggling against racism and racial discrimination. During this week we bear in mind the threats to peace posed by lack of tolerance among the world's peoples.

Since the end of the cold war in many countries ethnic conflict and human rights violations against minorities have intensified. On a more positive note, next month we will celebrate the second anniversary of the end of apartheid and the first anniversary of democratic elections in South Africa.

In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart our country has stood for the whole world as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity and understanding. However, we must realize that many people still face racism and discrimination every day and that firm, forceful and repeated educational work must be done to eliminate it from Canadian society.

On behalf of all members of the House I urge all Canadians to recognize their responsibilities to one another and to society so that together we can continue to make this country the envy of the world.

Reform Party

[Brenda Chamberlain, Liberal, Guelph—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are tired of political parties that do not keep their promises. As the Reform Party dusts off its reform blue sheet Canadians see a political party, like so many others, failing to keep its promises.

Promise No. 1: end double dipping. Reality: one of their own collects a provincial pension while sitting as a member of Parliament.

Promise No. 2: adequate punishment for young offenders. Reality: vote against a bill that does just that.

Promise No. 3: fiscal responsibility. Reality: a party that cannot control its own finances. Newspaper reports say the party is in debt.

Promise No. 4: representation which reflects the wishes of a majority of its constituents. Reality: vote against gun registration, despite majority support.

Reform supporters and all Canadians see the list of broken promises in the blue sheet of the Reform Party. It is enough for all of them to see red.

Epilepsy Canada

[John Murphy, Liberal, Annapolis Valley—Hants, NS]

Mr. Speaker, March is National Epilepsy Month. Epilepsy is a functional disorder of the brain that temporarily blocks awareness. It is characterized by seizures, uncontrollable shaking, convulsions and confusion.

More than 280,000 Canadians, primarily youth, suffer from this condition. In approximately 75 per cent of the cases there is no known cause. New medications have been developed to control seizures but drugs are not the cure and often can have severe side effects. In addition, 40 per cent of seizures are not successfully controlled by current medication.

Epilepsy Canada is a voluntary organization dedicated to helping people with epilepsy and their families to overcome problems associated with this disorder.

I ask all members of the House to join me in applauding Epilepsy Canada and the work of its many volunteers. I also urge members to work to promote medical research so that we can find a lasting cure.

Labour Relations

[Bernard St-Laurent, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the events of the last few days have exposed the many shortcomings of the federal labour relations legislation. The two special acts voted in over the last two weeks to bring workers back to work are the most recent examples of the warped effects of archaic federal legislation.

Cabinet is hiding behind proposed reforms to the Canada Labour Code which apparently are now being studied. Yet, the provisions on strikebreakers have been well known for several years. It has been 17 months since the Liberal government was elected, and still nothing has been done regarding the issue.

When the time comes to bring in laws denying workers their rights, the government can work quite quickly, but when it comes time to correct provisions which victimize workers, the Liberals are happy enough to adopt an intolerable wait-and-see policy.

Mp Pension Plan

[Jim Silye, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in honour of Oscar night I present the top 10 Liberal excuses for keeping the fat cat pension for life plan.

(10) Hey, come on, we work weekends.

(9) The Deputy Prime Minister is going to need it when she resigns for not keeping her campaign promise to scrap the GST.

(8) If it were not for this plan Liberal members would not be of such high quality, like the member for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

(7) It is the only long term financial commitment the government can make.

(6) How else will they afford health care in their golden years?

(5) You do not expect them to rely on the Canada pension plan, do you?

(4) After they retire they will have to pay for their own trips.

(3) There is not room for all of them in the Senate, is there?

(2) If you think about it, their pensions are small when you compare them with the national debt of $550 billion.

(1) The Prime Minister will need the money for a place to stay when the leader of the Reform Party moves into 24 Sussex Drive.

Social Programs

[Chris Axworthy, NDP, Saskatoon—Clark's Crossing, SK]

Mr. Speaker, those who speak on behalf of and know the problems faced by the less well off in Canada today pointed out the complete about face of the Liberal government on social programs and health care.

Seven billion dollars less in the two years 1996-97 and 1997-98 is deeper than stated in the budget and will mean severe cuts in health care, post-secondary education and social programs across Canada. With federal government spending declining soon the federal government will have no power to ensure accessibility to health care, post-secondary education and social programs to all. It is the end of medicare and, with the end of CAP, provinces will not have to have social programs at all.

Canadians did not vote for this. The Liberals did not campaign on the total dismantling of Canada's social safety net and Canadians do not want to see the continuing Americanization of our society, whether it be carried out by Conservatives or by Liberals.

Newt Gingrich's Canadian fellow travellers Ralph Klein, the leader of the Reform Party and now the Prime Minister are turning back the clock to the thirties. Canadians need a government that works for Canadians and they deserve to have a government which keeps its promises. We used to say-

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands.

The Tragically Hip

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in the House to congratulate the Tragically Hip for their success last night in winning two Junos: entertainer of the year and group of the year.

The Hip have now won five Junos, including entertainer of the year for the third time. The group of Gord Downie, Gord Sinclair, Paul Langlois, Johnny Fay and Robbie Baker is from my riding of Kingston and the Islands and has a strong commitment to the Kingston community.

The entertainer of the year award is voted on by fans and is testimony to the band's wide appeal in Canada. The Tragically Hip sold out its recent 20-event tour of Canada in three days and has sold over 500,000 copies of its recent album "Day for Night".

While the Hip was winning Junos and praise in Canada on the weekend, it was also making a break into the American market with an appearance on "Saturday Night Live".

I join with millions of Canadians in congratulating the Tragically Hip on its success and wish it further great singing in the future.

World Rowing Championships

[Walt Lastewka, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the St. Catharines-Niagara Class A World Rowing Committee on its bid for the world rowing championships.

Rowing Canada has endorsed the committee's bid and will be putting the St. Catharines-Niagara bid forward on behalf of Canada in Finland later this year.

In 1970 St. Catharines hosted world rowing. We know we can do it again. We are pulling together to bring the world back to Niagara. We have the facilities, the expertise and the experience to make the 1999 World Rowing International Championships a great success.

Air Transportation

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, on March 10, the Minister of Transport announced that his government was granting the coveted Hong Kong route to Air Canada. This weekend, however, we learned that the minister had done an about-face and refused without any justification to allow Air Canada to fly to Hong Kong before late December 1995.

How can the Minister of Transport explain his government's decision to delay until late December 1995 Air Canada's access to the Hong Kong market, when this airline was all set to begin service to Hong Kong right away?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the second designation policy which we announced is not limited to Air Canada and Hong Kong. The predetermined passenger volume levels setting off the process also apply to Germany, for instance.

All these decisions were made after a long period of reflection and extensive negotiations, and we feel that it is in everyone's interest to ensure total openness in granting landing rights.

I must say to the hon. Leader of the Opposition that I really appreciate the way Air Canada President Hollis Harris reacted by saying that he appreciated the work done by the Government of Canada with regard not only to the Hong Kong matter but also to the bilateral agreement with the U.S., and especially to Air Canada being given access to the Japanese market. That is something he had been seeking for many years.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, how could the President of Air Canada afford to offend the route granting minister who is holding his company's future in his hands? The employees themselves are not so happy.

During his March 10 announcement, the minister bragged about his balanced distribution giving Air Canada a route to Hong Kong and Canadian access to several countries in Asia, not to mention the vast majority of available flights to New York and Chicago.

In this context, does the minister admit that it is unfair to delay the launch of the Hong Kong service until December, when the decisions benefiting Canadian take effect right away?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I know that the hon. Leader of the Opposition is very interested in this matter. I share his interest since we have been working on this without respite since we came to office. These are extremely complex situations that have existed for a very long time.

I wish to repeat once again that, when the announcement was made, it was not only a matter of granting landing rights in Hong Kong. It is not necessarily true that only the Hong Kong decision was delayed. All decisions based on national landing levels are at stake and that includes Canadian Airlines International's right to land in Germany.

The management of both airlines, including both presidents, Mr. Harris and Mr. Jenkins, reacted to all our air transport policy announcements by saying that they were very satisfied with the work done by the government, the negotiators and all those involved. The work was extremely difficult and very complex.

At the end of this year, both air carriers will have the opportunity to compete in all markets around the world, a first in Canadian air transport history.

[Lucien Bouchard, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, if it was so obvious that the decision would not take effect immediately, how come Air Canada had already taken all necessary steps to start flying to Hong Kong, spending money and getting ready to begin service right away?

Can the minister tell us if it is true that the decision to delay Air Canada's landing rights was imposed by the Prime Minister and that this delay prevented the immediate creation of 500 jobs in Montreal?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I assure the hon. Leader of the Opposition that the decision was not imposed by the Prime Minister. It was the result of a great deal of work.

I point out to my hon. friend that Air Canada, prior to the announcement on the second designation levels for Canadian carriers, had already announced that it was going to employ nearly 1,000 Canadians in its operations as pilots, as flight attendants and as ground personnel.

The growth and future of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines International will be the result of a series of initiatives undertaken by the government after a great deal of work.

In response to the question of the hon. Leader of the Opposition, I believe the attitude exhibited by Hollis Harris and Kevin Jenkins ushers in a new era of confidence for the employees of Canadian Airlines International, of Air Canada, as well as the shareholders of both companies and the Canadian travelling public.

Pearson Airport

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister. The Financial Post reported last week that the Prime Minister's former employer, the law firm of Lang Michener, confirmed that a one and a half hour meeting had taken place in January 1990 between the Prime Minister and the Matthews Group, the main partner in the consortium that eventually secured the Pearson Airport privatization contract.

In view of the fact that Mr. Matthews said he met the Prime Minister to discuss the privatization of Pearson International Airport, contrary to what the Prime Minister stated in this House on December 8, does the Prime Minister still maintain that the subject of privatization never came up during that meeting?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is clear: the answer is no. I even took the time to check with the lawyer who represented the Matthews Group in the office. I spoke with him and he confirmed that the Toronto airport was not discussed at all. At that time, I was not aware of the privatization plan.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, again according to the Financial Post , Mr. Matthews's recollection is that the Prime Minister, who was then running for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, asked for $25,000 in support for his campaign.

Considering how serious the allegations made in the Financial Post are, and to dispel any doubt regarding his personal involvement in this matter, does the Prime Minister not think that he should commission a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the privatization of Pearson Airport?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, again, I never solicited funds and Mr. Matthews himself says he did not contribute a penny to the Jean Chrétien leadership campaign.

National Defence

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of National Defence announced his long awaited public inquiry into the Somalia affair he promised it would get to the bottom of all questions surrounding DND headquarters and the military hierarchy.

Former deputy defence minister Bob Fowler is at the centre of the allegations. Yet we learned that Anne-Marie Doyle, one of the three commissioners appointed to look into the Somalia incident, is a close personal friend of Mr. Fowler.

How does the Minister of National Defence plan to deal with the perception that the impartiality of the inquiry has been compromised?

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

Mr. Speaker, the three commissioners were appointed because of their knowledge of the government process and public accountability, and their breadth of experience and impartiality.

If any one of these principles is compromised in any way then the matter will be addressed.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party is not questioning the abilities or the integrity of Anne-Marie Doyle. We are questioning the ability of the minister's staff. Surely the minister should have known about Ms. Doyle's 27-year friendship with Mr. Fowler.

This is not the first time the minister's office has dropped the ball. Last month it was the third airborne video. Last week it was the investigation of the military police. This is getting rather ridiculous.

I have a supplementary question. Who nominated the commissioners and why was the minister unaware of Ms. Doyle's 27-year connection to Bob Fowler?

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

Mr. Speaker, the inquiry was called under part I of the Inquiries Act. Therefore it is a government inquiry and a number of government departments were involved.

As to the specifics of what the hon. member is saying in his supplementary question, I think I addressed them in my answer to the first question.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister continues to skate around the issue. All we really want are the facts and we want to see some impartiality surrounding the Somali inquiry. We do not want it to be compromised.

Despite the reassurances of both the minister and Ms. Doyle there is a public perception that the inquiry is no longer objective and that it will be hindered in getting to the bottom of the Somali affair.

Will the defence minister restore the integrity of the public inquiry by removing Anne-Marie Doyle immediately?

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

Mr. Speaker, I gave the three criteria the commissioners had to have before they were appointed. One of them was impartiality.

If it is found that is not there or if there is any other call into question of the integrity of these individuals it will be addressed.