Debates of May 1st, 1995

Seagram

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

Mr. Speaker, the minister maintains that this visit had been carefully organized. If that is the case, could he tell us how he can continue to maintain in earnest that he knew nothing about this transaction until he got off the plane in Los angeles, when every major daily newspaper in Canada was reporting that a deal was imminent, as was confirmed by Mr. Bronfman himself the day before the minister arrived incognito in Los Angeles?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, not surprisingly, our colleague is not listening to me. Of course, rumours had been going around for a few days and I am on record in Hansard as saying on April 28 that I had heard a rumour to that effect a couple of days prior to the takeover.

So, the hon. member's story shows not only that he does not listen but that he does not read Hansard . Only a wizard could have predicted exactly when the transaction would take place. In order to know, I would have had to be informed of what was going on. I did not learn about the transaction on the day it took place because, as I have been telling you repeatedly, no one kept me fully informed of this whole matter.

Harbourfront

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

When the finance minister brought down his budget in February he said that all Canadians and regions would share the pain equally, every region except metro Toronto apparently. Canadians were stunned to hear that under pressure from Liberal MPs, the federal government is restoring $4 million of federal funding to Harbourfront.

How can the Prime Minister justify giving Harbourfront $4 million at a time when Canadians are being asked to tighten their belts even further?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am happy that the Reform Party has raised this issue. It underlines its fundamental support for cultural activities in this country.

I am rather surprised that Reform members would be against Harbourfront receiving moneys in order that it can carry on its activities and contribute substantially to tourism in the province of Ontario.

The hon. member should also know that the money which has been allotted to Harbourfront is not new money. It is a reallocation of moneys from the existing department, which goes a long way to providing much needed jobs in the city of Toronto.

Winnipeg Jets

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, obviously there is no overall plan.

As if Harbourfront were not bad enough, now we learn that the Minister of Human Resources Development will be meeting with the Prime Minister today to secure a $16 million loan for the Winnipeg Jets. If the minister thinks that the taxpayers will stand for this kind of expenditure, he has been playing without his helmet for too long.

Will the Prime Minister assure this House that no public money will be used to prop up the Winnipeg Jets?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification]

Mr. Speaker, once again the hon. member demonstrates how weak a case can be gained by the Reform Party using the somewhat flimsy source of resources that are provided by the media from time to time.

All we can report to members is that whatever initiative is taken in terms of the Winnipeg Jets and the arena is being initiated by the private sector in that city. Applications for grants have been made under the infrastructure program, as several other cities have already done. That is the kind of proposal that would be considered, if requested.

Bosnia

[Jean-Marc Jacob, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

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

The truce in Bosnia officially expires today, May 1. Yesterday, the UN special envoy in the former Yugoslavia, Mr. Akashi, failed in an ultimate attempt to extend the truce, following the refusal of Bosnian Serb belligerents.

Can the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell us about the current situation in Bosnia with the expiration of the truce and does he agree that fighting could intensify in the next few days and jeopardize the safety of Canadian peacekeepers?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for giving me this opportunity to say, on behalf of the Canadian government, that we support the efforts of the UN envoy, Mr. Akashi.

The developments which occurred over the last few hours give us reason to believe that, although the truce will not be extended, fighting will not intensify. We, of course, made representations to the parties involved in the conflict, asking them to use some elementary restraint so that the situation does not deteriorate any further.

The position of UN peacekeeping forces is such that they can save lives among the population affected by the conflict. This is why Canada continues to support the UN's efforts to restore peace.

[Jean-Marc Jacob, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Foreign Affairs tell us if the UN made new representations to the Bosnian government and to Bosnian Serbs to ensure the following: first, an extension of the truce; second, the maintenance of the humanitarian assistance provided; and

third, the pursuit of the negotiation process between the belligerents? Are there any new agreements?

[André Ouellet, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the answer to the three points is yes.

I know that some members of the Reform Party were not too happy because I was trying to give as elaborate an answer as possible. The situation in ex-Yugoslavia is extremely serious. I do not know if they feel we should not be participating in trying to maintain peace and security in Europe. However, it certainly is important and I commend the hon. member for raising a question of such importance in the House of Commons.

Fisheries

[Jean Payne, Liberal, St. John's West, NL]

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

As all Canadians are aware, and I am very proud to say, Canada has been successful in negotiating a settlement with the European Union with regard to the recent dispute over Greenland halibut. It is a settlement which will ensure conservation of fragile fish stocks as well as strict enforcement of NAFO fishing regulations.

Can the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans inform the House what the government is doing to ensure implementation of the terms of this agreement?

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for St. John's West for her question.

I am pleased to inform all members of the House, especially my friends in the Reform Party who are waiting with bated breath, no pun intended, that 35 European Union observers will be arriving in St. John's, Newfoundland today and tomorrow. The EU observers will be taken aboard EU support vessels and by Friday placed on all Spanish and Portuguese vessels fishing within the NAFO regulation zone.

Bosnia And Croatia

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the House that we are very interested in what is happening in the former Yugoslavia. As we are deploying troops in Bosnia and Croatia, UN troops are being blockaded in their barracks and their positions are being mined.

In Croatia a new military offensive has begun and several UN soldiers have been wounded.

With the situation deteriorating, just as the Reform Party predicted, when will the government finally realize that it should pull our troops out of Bosnia and Croatia?

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

Mr. Speaker, we know it is a very dangerous situation in the former Yugoslavia. Canadian soldiers are making a heroic effort to continue to discharge their mission.

With respect to the question of the mandate, that was debated in the House some weeks ago. We re-engaged for a further six months and nothing has caused the Government to Canada to change its mind since that time.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the government would pull out of Bosnia and Croatia if the whole UN contingent was withdrawn.

Are there any cases, and what would those specific conditions be, in which we might take unilateral action to pull our troops out?

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

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has made it known a number of times, as well as all of us in the government, that if the arms embargo was lifted it would precipitate Canada to take its soldiers out of ex-Yugoslavia.

In principle, we do not favour doing anything unilaterally. We are working with our allies on the ground. A concerted effort will be made to deal with all the problems there. Should those forces have to leave, it will be done in co-operation with those with whom we are serving.

Labour Relations

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. At the Liberal convention in Trois-Rivières last weekend, the Minister of Labour said that including antiscab provisions in the Canada Labour Code was no longer a priority for the government. The minister has clearly chosen to devote herself full time to the Quebec referendum, thus neglecting her responsibilities as federal Minister of Labour.

How does the minister justify the about-face of his colleague, the Minister of Labour, who now refuses to table a bill that would add antiscab provisions to the Canada Labour Code after promising to do so upon taking office?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, consultations on this issue are under way between the Minister of Labour, the unions and the employers. At the minister's request, the Director General of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is meeting with the parties. We

are not yet in a position to answer this question. We will give the hon. member an answer as soon as it becomes available.

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

How can the minister justify the fact that his colleague, the Minister of Labour, who was so eager to bludgeon rail workers upon taking office, no longer finds the time to include antiscab provisions in the Canada Labour Code?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]

Mr. Speaker, just as we did during the rail strikes, we acted in the national interest. We also think that we must now take the time to consult with the parties and try to reach a compromise.

I know that the opposition would prefer to take immediate action, without taking all necessary measures and without analyzing the situation. This government, however, wants to do the right thing for Canadians and Quebecers and will therefore make every effort required to achieve this goal.

Highways

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last Monday we were advised that the province of Nova Scotia, not the federal government, had decided to divert $26 million from the Wentworth bypass project in Nova Scotia to the riding of the minister of public works in Cape Breton.

Richie Mann, an MLA in Cape Breton whose riding will also benefit from this diversion of funds has stated: "Mr. Dingwall's role in this is that he talked to us about it and we talked to him about it and we all agreed it is a worthwhile project to do".

My question is for the Minister of Public Works and Government Services. Why did the minister put himself in a conflict of interest position when he talked to Mr. Mann about diverting the $26 million to a tourist road in his riding from a road that has claimed over 40 lives between 1986 and 1992, a road that will now have to be a toll road?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is an unusual situation when members of Parliament, and for that matter because of a previous incarnation when I was in the New Brunswick legislature, not to have politicians talk about roads, especially in Atlantic Canada.

I can assure the hon. member that the discussion of the allocation of highway funds for Nova Scotia took place with the minister of transport for Nova Scotia. Those consultations are ongoing with Nova Scotia and other provinces.

I am sure the hon. member recognizes that when members of the House have an opportunity to discuss with their provincial colleagues matters of mutual interest, it is certainly not a matter of conflict of interest, but a matter of doing their jobs. It is something of which the hon. member is not too aware, obviously, by the interest he has brought to this matter over the last couple of weeks.

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this is the fourth time I have stood in the House and asked the question of the minister of public works, and I keep getting an answer from this fellow.

Members on both sides of the House say misappropriation of funds has taken place. This is a classic case of conflict of interest. The Auditor General of Nova Scotia says that this is a serious case.

Will the Prime Minister call for an investigation by the ethics counsellor? If possible, I would like to ask either the Prime Minister to answer or the fellow who will not stand up here.

[The Speaker]

Usually, but not always, questions should be directed to a minister rather than this fellow because it confuses the Chair sometimes. The hon. Minister of Transport.

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is very unfortunate that the hon. member does not understand that when agreements are made with provinces there is an ongoing process of consultation.

The moneys that are going to be spent in Nova Scotia, as is the case with any other funds expended on behalf of the Canadian taxpayers, are subject to very stringent review both by the Auditor General of Canada as well as our department when we are reviewing those expenditures.

I know the hon. member is new to the House. It is true he has been up three or four times-and it shows-but the problem he has is in addressing questions like this using words like misappropriation of funds. If the hon. member were a little bit more careful he would understand that misappropriation of funds has implications that go far beyond a simple renegotiation of a contract to allocate funds for highway construction in any province.

Therefore, I ask the hon. member to reconsider that kind of insinuation.