House of Commons Hansard #186 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was loans.
Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is surprising, since a member of the party to which he belongs, the Bloc Quebecois, has already suggested that immigrants in the Province of Quebec be denied the right to vote in the referendum. In light of this, it is quite singular that the hon. member raises the issue.
Mr. Coderre qualified his statement after the fact and I consider the matter closed.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
But, Mr. Speaker, apologies were in order.
My supplementary question is for the Prime Minister. Does he intend to demand a public apology from not only Mr. Coderre but also his Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, because he was there when Mr. Coderre made his remarks and he did not feel it was important, as a member of the government, to immediately dissociate himself from them?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, his words are being taken out of context. The Liberal Party has always been recognized as the pro-immigration party in Canada. In my speech last night to international parliamentarians from all parts of the world, I reaffirmed Canada's values, which include tolerance. This is one of the qualities that our party has prized for a very long time.
Jim Gouk Reform Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC
Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada is undergoing the commercialization or privatization of many parts of its government transportation holdings. This includes air traffic control, air navigation equipment, airports and CN Rail. Also being considered are the Canadian ports, the St. Lawrence Seaway and possibly even parts of the coast guard.
Given this high degree of planned privatization and the need for the public to understand and accept this process, does the Minister of Transport not agree the only way to ensure this is to order an open and transparent public inquiry into all aspects of the Pearson development contract process?
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, it is a winding and torturous road to get to that question. I thank the hon. member for listing the objectives of Transport Canada.
I do not want to comment on matters that are before the other place, but I understand there is some consideration being given to an inquiry there. I want to emphasize the importance the government attaches to getting to work at Pearson, developing the premier airport in Canada.
There can be all kinds of reasons in the minds of some to delay the work that has to be done at Pearson. As far as we are concerned the time has long past since we should have begun the work of putting thousands of people into the construction
project at Pearson International Airport, making it the kind of crown jewel of our air system it should be.
Jim Gouk Reform Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have never questioned the right of the government to cancel the Pearson contract. With that right goes an obligation to the Canadian taxpayer to show the need for the action, the cost of the action and where the government will get the money for an alternative.
Using the government's own figures, cancellation will cost a minimum of $500 million if the rule of law is followed and the crown construction option will cost another billion.
Where will the government get this $1.5 billion not in the Liberal's latest budget?
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has come directly to the point with his supplementary question.
There is no question that if we continue the process that some are on at this point, as the hon. member says, it could cost Canadian taxpayers $500 million without a nail being driven or an inch of asphalt being laid.
The point is the Government of Canada has made known its position. We are prepared to pay up to $30 million for reasonable out of pocket expenses to compensate those people who were involved in the process, many of them third party not directly involved in the process that led to the granting of that final contract.
The difficulty with the Reform Party is as usual it wants its cake and wants to eat it too. That is not the way it works in the real world.
Audrey McLaughlin NDP Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Today the book by Ben Wicks, "Born to Read", was launched on Parliament Hill, reminding us all of how important and how serious the problem of illiteracy is Canada. However, it is not evident by the actions of the government that it takes this seriously.
There are some seven million people in Canada who have difficulty or extreme difficulty reading. Because national literacy groups are still on year to year funding and not core funding it is very difficulty to plan.
Will the Prime Minister comment on this important day and commit to allowing literacy groups to have long term funding, not on a year to year basis to solve this problem?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, education is more a problem for provincial governments but we have national programs to help.
There was a specific problem coming from the federal government for that program which is financed on a yearly basis. Everybody knows the government is facing some difficult budgetary problems. I will look into the matter and see what can be done.
Audrey McLaughlin NDP Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Prime Minister will agree that having seven million citizens who have difficulty or extreme difficulty in the every day tasks of literacy is hindering this country's economic and social development.
Will he commit to long term funding and a serious commitment by the government to attacking the issue of illiteracy?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, part of the work we have given to the Minister of Human Resources Development in the reform of unemployment insurance and social programs is for him to review this in the next months to come. There will be an element to make sure that all Canadian citizens can benefit from our policy so that training and gaining abilities in learning is key to finding jobs in our society.
It will be part of the discussions we will have in the House when the reform of the social programs and transfer programs to the provinces will be discussed. The hon. leader of the NDP will have a chance to comment at that time.
Harold Culbert Liberal Carleton—Charlotte, NB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development.
As of this week, many college and university students will be returning to their homes throughout Carleton-Charlotte to begin their search for needed summer employment so they may obtain the necessary funds to return to school this fall.
What actions are being taken by the government to address this important employment opportunity for the youth of our communities?
Maurizio Bevilacqua LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the red book commitment, young people are a priority for the government. We have taken measures to give them opportunities to learn some very valuable skills.
I am happy to announce, as I did three weeks ago in the city of Vaughan, that the overall budget for youth employment and services has been increased by $43 million even during this fiscal restraining time. This speaks volumes for the type of commitment that we as a government have toward our young people.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
Colleagues, I wish to draw to your attention the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Stephen Kakfwi, Minister of Justice and Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs from the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I wish as well to draw the attention of members to the presence in our gallery of His Excellency Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Cuba.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
Some hon. members
Hear, hear.
This brings question period to its conclusion.
Report Of ByelectionsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada entitled "The February 1995 Byelections: Another Step Forward".
Accordingly, pursuant to Standing Order 35, this document is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments that were made by the government.
Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list of which is attached.
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, while I have the floor and pursuant to Standing Order 78, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 36 petitions.
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 73rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the list of committee members.
With the consent of the House, I intend to propose adoption of the 73rd report later today.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the 73rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to.)
Jim Jordan Liberal Leeds—Grenville, ON
Mr. Speaker, I wish to seek the consent of the House to withdraw Motion No. M-5. It is my motion in Private Members' Business and it deals with the issue of excise taxes on ethanol.
In December the government introduced legislation which will handle that situation to my satisfaction. The new ethanol program that deals with the issue was put forward then and further debate is not required now.
(Order discharged and motion withdrawn.)
Shirley Maheu Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of presenting a petition from several residents in Quebec and more particularly the group Affordable Textbooks Now.
As the result of the increasing cost of textbooks which are needed for student studies, many people are forced to effectively break the law because they are photocopying in part or in whole many of the textbooks for which they are not in a position to pay.
Therefore they request that Parliament put an end to the GST on textbooks and take into account the high price of textbooks when allotting money for educational funding.
Michel Daviault Bloc Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of submitting a petition signed by over 1,000 petitioners concerning the Armenian genocide. The petitioners note that our country, recognized as an active defender of democratic principles and human rights, has yet to officially
condemn the atrocities and commemorate the first genocide of the 20th century.
Accordingly, the petitioners ask Parliament to change its policy of indifference to the Armenian genocide, to take the initiative and to actively promote international efforts in order to persuade Turkey to acknowledge its crime against humanity.
Jack Frazer Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty and honour to rise in the House to present a petition duly certified by the clerk of petitions on behalf of 43 constituents from the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands and more specifically from the island of Saltspring.
The petitioners call on Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation.