House of Commons Hansard #222 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was species.

Topics

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

June 20th, 1995 / 2:20 p.m.

An hon. member

It is just the beginning!

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Mr. Speaker, that is not even from the very latest polls, that they have decided not to leak.

The Quebec Referendum Act limits each party's spending, in order to uphold democracy. But, the Privy Council, which could almost be considered the office of the Prime Minister, is not governed by this act.

My question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. Given the way the Privy Council's budget works, will the minister confirm what Jocelyne Bourgon told the Committee on Government Operations at the end of May, which was that any additional spending done by the Privy Council is approved after the money has been spent, because it is impossible to forecast what the total cost will actually be?

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Hull—Aylmer Québec

Liberal

Marcel Massé LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada

Mr. Speaker, firstly, I would like to point out that the poll to which the hon. member for Roberval referred was conducted in the month of March. In addition, the figure of 54 per cent is being interpreted in a specific way by the Bloc Quebecois and the Parti Quebecois. The statistic of 54 per cent refers to those who are in favour of sovereignty association; according to the latest poll, only 32 per cent of those polled are in favour of independence. Consequently, it is obvious that this important statistic has been distorted by the Bloc Quebecois to mislead people.

Regarding the Privy Council's budget, clearly it will cost us more to defend national unity if the referendum is delayed. This is true for the Province of Quebec, it is true for the Parti Quebecois and it is true for us. The figure approved in the estimates truly was what we believed we would spend on a referendum which we expected would be held in June. If the Parti Quebecois had kept its word, that is what would have happened.

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

The Speaker

Dear colleagues, I would like to ask you to keep both your questions and your answers brief.

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the minister that never at any time did he, the Prime Minister, or any of the ministers opposite have the courage to clearly answer the question would they refuse an economic association in the interest of the rest of Canada, yes or no?

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

I invite him to stand up and to answer that question now.

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

The Speaker

The question please.

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Since the spending of the Privy Council is only approved after the fact, will the minister confirm that his government could end up spending as much as it wants, without any control whatsoever, and that we would only find out the real cost several months after the referendum? In other words, will the minister confirm that the Privy Council is an open bar-

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Referendum On Quebec SovereigntyOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Hull—Aylmer Québec

Liberal

Marcel Massé LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada

Mr. Speaker, as I just indicated the Government of Quebec, the Parti Quebecois, has already spent more than $11,130,000 on propaganda, pure propaganda for sovereignty.

The opposition should remember that more than 60 per cent of Quebecers are federalists and the great majority of them, more than 90 per cent, like Canada and do not want to leave it.

BosniaOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Reform

Preston Manning Reform Calgary Southwest, AB

Mr. Speaker, while we wrangle about Canadian unity and the relative safety of the Chamber, Canadian lives are at risk in the former Yugoslavia.

We have learned directly from the Canadian camp at Visoko that earlier today Bosnian Muslims placed five anti-tank mines and two rocket propelled grenade launchers across the entrance to our base there.

The Bosnian Muslims have reportedly told our forces that they may not leave the camp and to attempt to do so would invite military retaliation. This means that in effect 700 more Canadian soldiers are now the hostages of yet another warring faction in Bosnia.

Canadians are rightly concerned about the safety of our peacekeepers and disturbed by the escalating nature of the conflict.

Can the minister of defence confirm that this is the situation facing our peacekeepers in Visoko and update the House on the prospects for their release?

BosniaOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that for the past number of days access to our camp at Visoko has been restricted. This is something we deem to be totally unacceptable. We have conveyed our feelings to the Bosnian government and there are discussions now under way between the base commander and local military commanders.

I think all Canadians feel some anger at the fact that the base in Visoko has operated for three years with the acquiescence of the Muslim majority; the soldiers there have performed incredibly good tasks in bringing medical and other humanitarian aid to people largely of Muslim origin; and now, three years after the fact, the Bosnian government denies access to our camp. It is something that is unacceptable and is something that we as Canadians will not tolerate.

BosniaOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Reform

Preston Manning Reform Calgary Southwest, AB

Mr. Speaker, we share the minister's consternation but the question is: What are we going to do about it? We have gone from a dozen hostages to 700 and instead of delivering humanitarian aid our troops are now in need of food, water and supplies.

It is our understanding that 20 Canadians stationed at the two observation posts outside Visoko will run out of rations by Friday and the 700 soldiers held at the base have only enough food to last for two weeks.

What steps is the government taking to ensure the safe passage of supplies to our soldiers in and around Visoko and is the government taking any direct leadership role in this matter or merely leaving negotiations up to the local commander?

BosniaOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the Reform Party and its leader seem to think solutions can be instant in the very difficult situation in the former Yugoslavia.

During the 20 days we had members of our armed forces detained all we heard from that party were not constructive suggestions but "why have you not done anything, why don't you have any results?" The way that situation turned out, the calm diplomacy using the appropriate channels to gain the release of our people at Ilijas and Captain Rechner and Captain LaPalm was the right way to go about it.

If hon. members of the Reform Party were directing Canada's defence policy, who knows what danger our troops would be in.

BosniaOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Reform

Preston Manning Reform Calgary Southwest, AB

Mr. Speaker, no one is advocating instant solutions to this problem. We have been consistent on our position with respect to what should be done in that part of the world for the last year.

Due to the absence of a coherent government policy on peacekeeping in Yugoslavia, Canadians soldiers have been from one hostage crisis to another.

Since November last year Reform has been calling on the minister to consider the well-being of our peacekeepers and to develop specific criteria for their involvement or their disengagement in Bosnia. The government has steadfastly refused.

Given the increased use of UN soldiers as hostages and military pawns and their declining ability to fulfil their original humanitarian mandate, will the government make a commitment now to withdraw our soldiers from Bosnia as soon as possible?

BosniaOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Don Valley East Ontario

Liberal

David Collenette LiberalMinister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, we have made our position quite clear on this and the Prime Minister has stated the government's policy.

The hon. member from the Reform Party talks about the consistency of their policy. Two weeks ago at the height of the hostage crisis when Canadians were held in very precarious situations we had talk from that side about Canada retreating from the theatre. Then it said its policy was not one of retreat but one of withdrawal. When pressed further, withdrawal meant taking everybody out, only to go back in with even heavier equipment, including F-18 fighter planes.

Talk about consistency; it is not there on that side of the House.

CrtcOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Yesterday, the government asked the CRTC for its comments on the two draft orders relating to satellite broadcasting. The CRTC has until tomorrow to respond, although the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is still reviewing the matter.

How can the Minister of Canadian Heritage justify the fact that the final versions of the orders have already been submitted to the CRTC for consultation, when the heritage committee has not finished discussing the recommendations it will make to the government regarding these orders?

CrtcOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is wrong, as she very often is when making comments. We will continue to consult the CRTC about these orders, as we are required to do under the Broadcasting Act.

Furthermore, we already have before us the procedure followed by Senate and House of Commons committees. The order will not be final until cabinet makes a decision following 40 days of consultation with Parliament and the CRTC.

CrtcOral Question Period

2:30 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC

Mr. Speaker, this is really confusing. The government is consulting the CRTC, as it is required to do. Does this mean that it will have to consult the commission a second time, once the minister has taken into account the reports from the other House and from the committee?

Is this not ultimately some kind of masquerade trampling all parliamentary rights because, according to the memo from Power Corporation, this family business must be settled as quickly as possible?

CrtcOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, it is a little difficult to take seriously the protestations of the hon. member about wanting to be consulted when she follows them up with ridiculous accusations such as she has.

We have followed to the letter the requirements of the Broadcasting Act in order to consult with both Parliament and the CRTC.

Although we have heard these accusations repeated over and over, we have not once heard from the hon. member whether she agrees with the panel of experts, whose recommendations we

acted on in April, or whether she agrees with the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, the Consumers Association of Canada or any of the groups that have supported the action the government has taken. Instead she makes these accusations.

I would like to know, since it is clear the government stands on behalf of competition and in favour of consumers, choice and lower prices, what does the Bloc Quebecois stand for except to stand with the proposed monopolies?

CrtcOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Reform

Jan Brown Reform Calgary Southeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that in its haste to help out government friends and relatives of Power Corp. the heritage minister presented a draft final cabinet order on direct to home satellites to the CRTC before the parliamentary process was completed.

The heritage minister has allowed the process to be tainted from the outset. He had private meetings with Power Corp. and he is letting the CRTC now run amok and again he has violated procedure.

I respectfully request that the Minister of Canadian Heritage respond to this question. Why is the cabinet sending draft final orders which benefit Power Corp. to the CRTC before the parliamentary process is complete?

CrtcOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, I would really like to see this draft final order. It must be an interesting hybrid.

I call the member's attention to the provisions of the Broadcasting Act-

CrtcOral Question Period

2:35 p.m.

The Speaker

I am sure we all want to listen to the answer. I remind hon. members that questions are asked to the government and the government may choose to answer any way it likes.