House of Commons Hansard #201 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was trade.

Topics

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, if any members of the forces are required to testify they will be there.

FisheriesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Ron Fewchuk Liberal Selkirk—Red River, MB

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

The report on Fraser River sockeye salmon stated that the sales agreement under the aboriginal fisheries strategy last year contributed to the mismanagement of the Fraser runs.

In response to the report the minister promised that all pilot sales agreements would be signed by May 15. Could the minister please update the House?

FisheriesOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, I do not have an announcement but I will do my best.

The Fraser panel report indicated that the late negotiations of sales agreements last year, negotiations that went into July, contributed to poor management performance with respect to the management of the sales agreements. The member for Delta has said that once or twice in the House.

Having listened to both members, the member for Saanich-Gulf Islands and the member for Delta, as well as members on this side of the House, I am pleased to announce that effective today all sales agreements will be signed two months earlier than was the case last year.

Gas PumpsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Bloc

Jean Landry Bloc Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry. We learned this morning that 13 per cent of gas pumps across Canada do not give accurate readings, which translates into unjustified additional costs to customers.

Does the Minister of Industry confirm this information and what does he intend to do to remedy this situation, which is prejudicial to consumers?

Gas PumpsOral Question Period

2:45 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, I too read a remark to that effect in the weekend papers. The hon. member may be interested to know that a maximum margin of error of 0.5 per cent has been set for gas pumps. There are federal employees assigned to inspect the pumps and we hope to have a report explaining these discrepancies in the near future.

Gas PumpsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Jean Landry Bloc Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Industry not agree that, by having gas pumps inspected only once every six years, he is failing in his duty to protect consumers, who can then fall victim to any malfunction of these pumps?

Gas PumpsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, I fully agree that it is very important for inspectors to be vigilant, so that they can detect the kind of problems raised by the hon. member.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians were shocked to learn last Friday that when it comes to Canadian foreign policy the government believes trade should take precedence regardless of a country's poor record on human rights.

Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs explain the shift in policy, given the fact that it breaks yet another promise set out in the infamous red book wherein it reads: "We will continue to support democracy and respect for human rights worldwide?"

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

André Ouellet LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I can confirm for the hon. member that we will continue to act very vigorously to support respect for human rights and democracy throughout the world.

There has been no change of policy. In response to the very thorough review of the parliamentary committee we have expressed in our presentations the various goals we want to pursue in foreign policy.

One goal is trade. Another goal is to promote our values, what we believe in. Certainly we believe in respect for human beings and respect for democracy. This is one of many features of our foreign policy.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, that was not what was said last week. It sounds like we will see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil when it comes to our foreign policy on human rights.

The attitude of the government shows the callous disregard for the gross human rights abuses that are taking place all over the world. I am sure the government's insensitive approach to human rights will be little comfort to the valiant souls subjected to torture and incarceration without trial while fighting for human rights and democracy throughout the world.

Why has the government flip-flopped yet again on its foreign policy commitments? Why has it broken another of its red book promises?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

André Ouellet LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I absolutely refute the allegations of the hon. member. We have not changed our foreign policy. We have not flip-flopped on the red book. It is quite the contrary. We are delivering on our promises.

One of the main promises we made to Canadians-and the Prime Minister has said it all along-is to create jobs and sustain the Canadian economy. We are doing it. Despite the view of the hon. member we will work vigorously to promote employment and growth in Canada and create jobs. That is one aspect of our foreign policy.

By doing that it does not mean we are abdicating other objectives we have, particularly to promote and sustain those who are fighting for democracy and human rights in the world. They are not contradictory. Quite the contrary, the two objectives could go hand in hand and be promoted worldwide.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the answers given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the questions just asked.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs did not say that as far as the government is concerned there is a link between trade and human rights and that they are prepared to use trade in certain circumstances to make sure human rights are upheld around the world through our trade policy.

Will the minister say that there will continue to be a link between human rights and trade policy? If he will not that is a flip-flop.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

André Ouellet LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I assure the hon. member that whenever we have trade relations in countries where we have established good rapport and created a climate of confidence, we will certainly use the good rapport to promote human rights and influence governments to change their policies and to accept our values and our own objectives.

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister of Foreign Affairs saying he rejects that possibility with respect to any country guilty of severe human rights violations, whether it be Burma in the present or South Africa in the past? The government from now on will rely on good rapport that is supposed to be established between countries as a result of trade? Or, is he still open to the possibility of using trade sanctions as a way of upholding human rights around the world?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

André Ouellet LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear that in some cases, through the United Nations, when all countries accept the imposition of trade sanctions as happened in South Africa, Canada has certainly joined others and supported the measures.

To try to be a boy scout on our own, to impose our own rules on others when nobody else is following, is absolutely counterproductive and does not lead to any successful future. Therefore it is quite clear that our approach, the multiplicity of objectives we are pursuing, is certainly much more conducive to obtaining the end result.

Unemployment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The government has conducted extensive public consultations on the reform of Canada's social programs. During that process one of the important issues raised had to do with unemployment insurance benefits for seasonal workers.

As the minister is expected to announce reforms to the unemployment insurance system later this year, could the minister assure the House that he will continue to give full credit to seasonal workers in recognition of their valuable contribution to the Canadian economy?

Unemployment InsuranceOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Winnipeg South Centre Manitoba

Liberal

Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development and Minister of Western Economic Diversification

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, in addition to general public consultations we have commissioned some special initiatives. A seasonal workers task force tabled its report about a month ago. We have had a special working relationship with the construction trades. I have met with representatives of the building trades and construction unions last week in Toronto.

In all cases they made very significant contributions. Therefore we will be responding to many of the representations, including one which I think is important, that is that we would seek an alternative to the two tier system originally presented in the green book. We think there are better ways of doing things.

CompcorpOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Reform

John Williams Reform St. Albert, AB

Mr. Speaker, in order to protect the insurance policy holders from events arising out of corporate failure, the private sector created Compcorp, a well run and efficient regulatory body. Even the Secretary of State for Financial Institutions has applauded Compcorp's record in dealing with the failures of two federally regulated life and health insurance companies. Yet the government is pushing to eliminate Compcorp in favour of a federally operated policy protection board.

Why is the minister pushing to set up a public regulatory body when one that fills the needs of the private sector already exists? Is it not just another case of government overkill?

CompcorpOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Scarborough East Ontario

Liberal

Doug Peters LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question and for his interest in financial institutions legislation.

Perhaps the hon. member is aware that I made remarks in Toronto recently on the question of Compcorp. I recognize it has been effective. If they will make some adequate changes to Compcorp we will certainly consider not proceeding with our policy protection board.

The four conditions I set out at the time are: revised corporate governance for Compcorp; greater access to privately financed resources; the capability of levying higher assessments if necessary; and, finally, to ensure the ability to arrange going concern solutions. These are the minimum changes that we would require from Compcorp and we would hope the private sector would answer those concerns.

CopyrightOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Pierrette Venne Bloc Saint-Hubert, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage indicated that he had provided the Minister of Justice with instructions for the drafting of a copyright bill. However, the federal government still has no copyright protection policy.

Since the heritage minister is now waiting for his colleague from justice, could the Minister of Justice tell us if he plans to introduce this bill for consideration by this House before the summer recess?

CopyrightOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I cannot say. I am not sure that I know the timing of the proposals. I do know that officials in my department have been communicating with Heritage Canada and are at work in preparing proposals to improve the copyright law. As to timing, I am not able to answer the hon. member. Perhaps I will inquire of my colleague and let her know in the next day or two.

CopyrightOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Sherbrooke.

CopyrightOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

HighwaysOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Jean Charest Progressive Conservative Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for the usual reception.

On Saturday I met with a group of truckers in Nova Scotia concerning Highway 104. They were protesting the diversion of $26 million in funds from the federal-provincial agreement to upgrade the highway for safety reasons among others and to encourage interprovincial trade.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Given the fact that this diversion has been denounced by the auditor general of Nova Scotia as not conforming to the agreement signed between both governments, will the Prime Minister rein in his minister of public works so that he stops sending money to his own riding at the detriment of the safety of the highways in Nova Scotia?

HighwaysOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Acadie—Bathurst New Brunswick

Liberal

Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome the leader of the fifth party back for his monthly appearance.