Debates of May 9th, 1995

Criminal Code

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member raises an important point. I met two weeks ago with the father of Tara Manning and spoke to him about the tragedy his family had suffered because of her murder and about the need for changes in the law to provide, as the hon. member has said, for the collection and use of evidence that will help in the detection and prosecution of such crimes.

We have just completed a consultation with respect to this issue. We are reviewing the results now. I can tell the hon. member that it is my intention to present legislation in the House that will amend the code to provide for the taking of bodily samples with a search warrant for the purpose of determining the DNA of an accused person and for the creation of data banks whereby such samples can be stored and to which resort may be made in future investigations.

[Pierrette Venne, Bloc, Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, is the minister aware that, by delaying such an amendment to the Criminal Code until the fall, most likely, he will enable people accused of violent crimes to go free for lack of evidence? What is the minister waiting for in order to act quickly?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, that is not entirely right. The courts for the last seven years in Canada have been receiving DNA evidence as proof. It has been used by authorities to establish the guilt and from time to time the innocence of people implicated in alleged crimes.

At present, the use of DNA samples is limited to those circumstances in which it is found and where the court determines that its use is consistent with principles of justice.

Our intended changes would broaden the use, both of the taking of samples to put it on a regular lawful basis and allowing the authorities to stockpile it to have a bank available for reference in future investigations.

Employment

[Elijah Harper, Liberal, Churchill, MB]

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

My riding in northern Manitoba suffers from the highest unemployment, up to 90 per cent in some communities. The services provided by the Canada employment centre in Thompson and its satellite offices are absolutely essential.

Could the minister assure my constituents that the reorganization of his department will not cut human resources services in northern Manitoba?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am certainly conscious of the very severe unemployment situation in the hon. member's riding. It is probably the most serious in the country.

I can assure the hon. member that the Pathways budget, which provides services to aboriginal and First Nations peoples, has been maintained at the same level this year. At the same time we are endeavouring to retain the outreach services so that those services can be maintained in the remote communities.

Let me say something that applies not just to the hon. member but to all members. We are reorganizing the department, but I made it very clear that the guidelines must be that any reduction come from the overhead of the department, not from direct services to clients, so that we have much better control and discretion of decision at the local level. Decisions will be made to tailor programs at the local level and maintain clear accessibility for all citizens of Canada so they can get proper services to get back to work.

Somalia Commission

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the information commissioner says that the Somalia commission does not have the power to bypass the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act and the government cannot bend the rules to meet commission concerns. Further, the Minister of National Defence in his recent news release says that all information requests will be processed according to the two acts.

Given that national defence is notorious for its lack of respect for processing access requests, can the Deputy Prime Minister please explain what this policy will mean to all of us?

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

Mr. Speaker, the policy, as the member indicated, was self-explanatory in the news release issued by the Department of National Defence on Friday last which states: "All access to information requests will continue to be processed in accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act". That coincides with the opinion expressed by Mr. Grace.

[Bob Ringma, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the information commissioner also says that the access act is a law of Parliament and you cannot just opt out of it because you find it inconvenient.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister assure the House, because we are sincerely worried about this, that requests will not be denied just because it is a matter of inconvenience or the commission says so?

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

Mr. Speaker, I think the news release issued by the Department of National Defence makes it very clear that in fact according to the law, all access to information requests will continue to be processed in accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. I do not think the department could make it any clearer.

Bovine Somatotropin

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Health.

On December 8, 1994, in response to questions from the official opposition about the conflict of interest created by Mr. Ritter's position with the Bureau of Veterinary Drugs at Health Canada, and his activities as a lobbyist for pharmaceutical companies seeking approval of the growth hormone, bovine somatotropin, the Minister of Health told us she would make inquiries and give us a report.

Could the minister indicate whether upon investigation, Mr. Ritter's conduct was found to be in accordance with the government's conflict of interest guidelines and could she table in the House the report prepared by her department?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, we announced Health Canada's position with respect to Mr. Ritter. I have nothing to add at this point.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's answer is not really satisfactory. I asked if inquiries had been made and if the report was ready, because on December 8, 1994, she said in the House that she would make inquiries and give us a report.

Does the minister intend to take steps to ensure that there are no recurrences of unacceptable situations like this one at Health Canada?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, as I said just now, I asked the deputy minister to make inquiries. She did so. We made an announcement, and at this point, we have nothing to add. I have nothing more to say.

Government Contracts

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of public works.

After cancelling the lease on a 37 square metre office in St. John's used primarily by the minister of fisheries, the government entered a five year deal on 348 square metres with a great view of the narrows.

Since the minister of public works has seen fit to spend $87,000 a year on these swanky new digs on top of $170,000 to renovate them to Liberal standards and over $46,000 to lavishly furnish them, could he tell the House whether the minister of fisheries who will be the primary occupant of these new suites had any input of any kind into the decision to move to these new offices?

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. The answer is no.

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

At least I got something out of the minister in the last couple of weeks. No is better than nothing at all.

On April 25 the secretary of state for fisheries stated in this House: "The St. John's offices were moved to another building according to standard procedure which requires a call for tenders".

My question is for the secretary of state for fisheries. Since the Evening Telegram in St. John's now reports it indeed was not tendered, why did he indicate to the House that it was tendered? Which version of the truth is the truth?

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

Mr. Speaker, I do not have all the details available about which the hon. member has asked.

I want to inform the House that the government embarked upon a policy of closing down a good number of ministerial

regional offices across the country. In fact, 11 MROs have been closed at a saving of some $3.5 million to the taxpayers.

The facility in Newfoundland will not only be utilized by the minister responsible for fisheries and oceans, but will also be utilized by all ministers of the crown. It will be utilized by various ministers of state as well as other government representatives who are doing business in a province in which we believe it is very important that we get some economic activity taking place.

Fisheries

[Bonnie Hickey, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the secretary of state for fisheries and oceans.

On April 28, 1995 while Canadian fishery officers were conducting a NAFO inspection on the Spanish vessel Mayi Cuatro , the vessel dropped its net. The net has been recovered and both Canadian and EU inspectors confirm that the net contained an illegal liner.

Can the secretary of state tell Newfoundlanders and all Canadians what further action the government is taking to stop this kind of violation of NAFO regulations?

[Fernand Robichaud, Liberal, Secretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her incessant interest in fisheries.

On April 28 Canadian officers issued a NAFO citation to the master of the Mayi Cuatro . On May 8 EU inspectors boarded the Mayi Cuatro and sealed the fish hold. We have received word that the Spanish vessel has been ordered to cease its fishing activity and return immediately to Spain. These are very positive developments which indicate a clear willingness by the EU to take immediate and decisive action to meet the terms of the Canada-EU agreement.

Shipping

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.

In September 1994, at the 12th conference of the International Maritime Pilots' Association in Vancouver, the Minister of the Environment said the following:

"I am happy that IMPA is constantly striving to optimize the latest aids to navigation, thus improving safety. Even the most modern equipment will not replace the human element, but will add to the tools available to the pilot".

Since the Standing Committee on Transport recommends substantially reducing the requirements for pilotage in Canadian waters, does the minister intend to convince her colleague at Transport to reject the committee's recommendations, which increase considerably the risks of an environmental catastrophe like that created by the Exxon Valdez ?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, obviously, the government will examine the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Transport and I hope that we will get some suggestions from the people we will be consulting with across Canada during the process which has already begun in the east.

It is regrettable that the hon. member who raised the question today did not seize the opportunity to propose suggestions which could have been of interest to the committee. He preferred instead to raise questions of the kind we just heard, which do not really help to resolve the problems with pilotage on the St. Lawrence and elsewhere.

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

Mr. Speaker, is the Minister of Transport aware, does he realize that a reduction in pilotage activities will cause a directly proportional increase in the risk of maritime accidents or ecological disasters?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the whole question of pilotage, the St. Lawrence authority as well as any other pilotage authority operating in the country is subject to change. The transport committee, which looked at the question, has made some recommendations. We are going to continue to study it and we look forward to recommendations from the hon. member.

One thing we have insisted on throughout this review of the responsibilities of Transport Canada is that we will continue to exercise our fiduciary responsibility for safety and security. That includes how we deal with pilotage authorities.

Port Of Belledune

[Jim Gouk, Reform, Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in mid-April the Minister of Transport pledged not one cent of federal money would go into the expansion of the port of Belledune in New Brunswick. Now we find out that in addition to the colossal $20 million loan, the expansion project will also

receive an outright grant of $6 million including a grant of $1.5 million from the Ministry of Transport itself. This expansion comes at a time when the New Brunswick ports of Miramichi, Bathurst and Dalhousie are on the verge of closing down due to overcapacity in east coast ports.

Given that no private sector investors have been found for the Belledune project and other ports in New Brunswick are capable of handling the expanded capacity being planned, why has the minister had this sudden $6 million change of heart? Where are the so-called sound business decisions he says are so evident?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the question put by the hon. member is riddled with misstatements. On the basis of what he has said, he does not even understand what is happening at Belledune.

One thing he did say is that the port of Bathurst, one that he says will be affected, is in my constituency. We are aware of the need to rationalize ports.

The port of Belledune has participation from the province of New Brunswick and the municipalities surrounding the port of Belledune. We believe it is a step in the right direction.

I ask the hon. member to point to other examples anywhere in Canada where municipalities, provincial governments, the private sector and the federal government are prepared to spend money on port expansion.