Debates of June 8th, 1995

Crtc

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Anjou—Rivière-Des-Prairies, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today, the Minister of Industry revealed a new facet of federalism: courtroom federalism. According to him, the federal government is prepared to take legal action against the CRTC, an organization established by an act of Parliament.

By threatening to embark upon a legal battle with the CRTC, the government is only confirming that it will stop at nothing in its quest to justify the unjustifiable: its decision to give Power DirecTv the edge in satellite broadcasting.

The Minister of Industry says he is confident that he will be able to settle out of court with the CRTC. Just imagine the pressure that Mr. Spicer will be under to do so, especially because the Minister of Canadian Heritage, who is responsible for the CRTC, will not lift a finger to help him. This minister has shown in the past that he cannot stand up to anybody.

Bill C-41

[Sharon Hayes, Reform, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today the government arrogantly invoked closure on Bill C-41, flaunting the wishes of thousands and thousands of grassroots Canadians.

Yesterday I and some of my colleagues tried in vain to present to the justice minister over 10,000 letters in opposition to the sentencing bill collected from our own offices in recent weeks. These letters are from mainstream and small town Canadians from across Canada. Their concern centres on the contents of section 718.2. Over 600 petitions have been tabled in the House, represented by over 70,000 signatures. In addition, reports from within the justice department indicate that the justice minister himself has received over 70,000 letters in opposition to this bill.

The minister is fond of trotting out polls and statistics, but in the case of C-41 he has simply ignored the clear expression of Canadians. Arrogance in governing can prove fatal. Even at this late date, I call on the justice minister to respond positively to the clear expression of Canadians.

Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, June 5 marked the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in Midland, Ontario, in my riding of Simcoe North. The centre was opened by the Right Hon. Jean Chrétien, then Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Over the 25 years it has existed, Wye Marsh has overcome many obstacles and has established itself as a world leader in the area of heightening awareness of the importance of ecology, wetlands and wildlife.

In 1984, when the government of the time cut its funding, the Friends of Wye Marsh took over the operation of the centre. This organization was able to rally an entire community and to encourage that community to sacrifice time and money for the purpose of conserving this national treasure.

In the past few years the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre has been instrumental in the fight to implement a ban on lead shot and sinkers and more importantly to preserve the trumpeter swan.

Congratulations to the friends of Wye Marsh for continuing these important environmental programs. Canadians everywhere benefit from your conservation and education work. We wish you every success in the future.

Parliamentary Basketball

[Herb Dhaliwal, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am compelled to report, although some of my colleagues wanted to keep this matter quiet, that on Tuesday evening at the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa the MPs and pages clashed in their annual basketball game.

The Dhaliwal Dunkers, a multi-party team, were looking to extend the MP winning streak against the lowly pages. However, the pages, fighting like warrior poets of old, jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Despite a comeback effort led by the member for Souris-Moose Mountain and his seven points, the pages hung on for a 40 to 35 victory.

Congratulations to the pages, who not only displayed superior skills and solid grasp of the fundamentals of the game, but also adhered to the principle of gender equality, as half of the team was made up of female pages.

The pages have once again proven that age and experience are no match for youth and robust health.

Gun Control

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, since the Bloc Quebecois announced its latest change of heart on gun control, there has been a storm of protest and criticism in Quebec. Some more recent instances include what was said by the Centrale de l'enseignement du Québec, and I quote: "We wish to express our profound disagreement with the position of the Bloc on decriminalization. We hope that the Bloc's position will be adjusted to give serious consideration to the views of chiefs of police, police officers, the Canadian and Quebec Bar associations, public health experts, municipalities, the CEQ and the FCE".

The Bloc Quebecois, which has changed its mind before, should give its unqualified support to the passage of Bill C-68, as requested by the CEQ and other organizations in Quebec.

Minister Of Public Works

[Jean-Paul Marchand, Bloc, Québec-Est, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Canadian Heritage continues his blunders and unethical behaviour on an impressive scale, another government minister has been doing some political maneuvering with taxpayers' money. It seems the Minister of Public Works redirected $26 million earmarked for repairs to a dangerous

highway to developing a nature trail in Cape Breton-East Richmond, his riding in Nova Scotia.

The Minister of Defence also chided him for arbitrarily cutting $10 million from the budget envelope to be used to help Maritime communities affected by the closing of military bases. The same Minister of Public Works also appointed his official agent as head of the Cape Breton Development Corporation in his riding and wants to redirect funds from the budget of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to the corporation.

Federal Office Of Regional Development

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Office of Regional Development covers all bases. For example, taxpayers can enjoy a beer courtesy of their $46,000 grant to a beer manufacturer. After they quaff a couple of cool ones, they can go to the Quebec City horse show and watch 20,000 of their hard earned tax dollars spent on horse jumping. Before taxpayers take in the subsidized grand finale, I suggest they go back for more libations. They will need it before they travel to Jean's World, the ultimate in taxpayer abuse.

Yes, Canada's Prime Minister has a nice little theme park going up in his riding, with $3.5 million coming right from FORD-Q. The only problem is, experts say this little pork barrel gem will cost taxpayers millions annually. I could almost swear the members across the way are a bunch of Tory hacks in Liberal clothing.

To top it all off, Liberal and Bloc members join hands and invoke closure to ensure their gold plated pension plans. Shame, shame.

Peacekeeping

[Len Hopkins, Liberal, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, June 10, at the Petawawa civic centre grounds, a very important ceremony called the "Celebration of Peace" will take place. A memorial will be dedicated to all UN peacekeepers who participated in United Nations duties during the last 50 years.

This memorial, which honours all Canadian and international peacekeepers, has been totally paid for by donations. The flag poles and the United Nations flags are already in place. The celebration of peace memorial is not only being dedicated to those who have served as peacekeepers but will also honour those who are now serving and who will serve in the future.

It is time that the more than 90,000 Canadians who served in peacekeeping roles around the world receive their recognition in Canadian history. It is time that all of us in this great country of ours say thank you to the men and women in the Canadian Forces who have served Canada so well over the years.

Safe Boating Week

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to mark safe boating week in Canada, which runs June 4 to 10.

The week marks the kick off to a summer long public awareness campaign designed to encourage responsible boating. Boating safety is an issue of particular concern to the constituents of my riding, especially now with the summer tourist season upon us. There have been far too many boating accidents and fatalities in our waterways in the past. These tragedies affect us all and we must do all we can to prevent them.

Last year the Minister of Justice assured my constituents that boating regulations would be enforced on our waterways this summer. Last week in the House the minister re-emphasized his commitment to the implementation of a system to improve the safety of boaters on our waters in Ontario.

I urge Canadians everywhere to enjoy their time on the lakes this summer and to make safe boating practices standard with their families.

Government Funding

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to address a concern being expressed by many Canadians regarding the Prime Minister's national priorities.

Until he invoked closure three times today the Prime Minister thought he enjoyed considerable popularity. Soon that will only be among canoe makers. After all, there has never been a Prime Minister in Canadian history who ever reached deep enough into the pork barrel to fund a canoe museum. This action occurs at the same time the Prime Minister cuts spending grants to the museum assistance program, the main support for the country's public museums and galleries.

We have a Prime Minister who yanks money from museums and galleries across the country and dumps that money into Shawinigan to build a canoe factory virtually guaranteed to draw nothing but dust and flies and perhaps the odd Liberal seeking employment as a canoe museum curator.

We wonder after today's election if it is the Prime Minister's intention to fund a museum for extinct Liberals in Ontario.

Minister Of Canadian Heritage

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister continued to defend his Minister of Canadian Heritage and insisted the opposition provide new facts on the minister's $2,000 supper. The official opposition has learned that Richard Gervais is not only the Minister of Canadian Heritage's political organizer and fundraiser and the recipient of untendered contracts from him, but Mr. Gervais also lobbies for various associations and businesses.

It seems to me that my preamble speaks for itself. I therefore ask my question. Would the Minister of Canadian Heritage tell us whether he informed the Prime Minister that Mr. Gervais was not only his fundraiser and friend and the recipient of his contracts, but that he also lobbied the minister on behalf of a number of associations including the Canadian Tennis Association and Planetary Sports Television?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already had occasion to say in this House, if there is one well-known firm in Quebec, it is Gervais-Gagnon, which has worked for many governments. Its activities are very well known. It does not keep its clientele a secret. There is therefore absolutely nothing mysterious or secretive in this situation. Everybody knows the facts.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the minister's familiarity with Gervais-Gagnon, because this is the firm that does his fundraising, does him favours and lobbies him.

Would the Minister of Canadian Heritage tell us whether he took the precaution-the question is a simple one-of informing the Prime Minister that this gentleman was not only his friend and his fundraiser, but that he was also a lobbyist representing associations such as the Canadian Tennis Association, which last year received $500,000 in funding from the Minister of Canadian Heritage?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, when a fundraising event is organized in compliance with the rules, the first to be involved are the party financial officials.

I have said in this House that we followed the rules and procedures. I certainly have done nothing that the party was not aware of.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that one of the functions of Mr. Gervais's firm is to organize meetings between the minister or senior officials of his department and the people it lobbies for, does the Minister of Canadian Heritage realize the situation he puts his senior officials in when they are questioned by a lobbyist who is a friend of the minister, his fundraiser and the recipient of untendered contracts from him? Does he realize that he thus makes it impossible for his officials to say no to anything?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, never, to my knowledge, have any of the sports or cultural associations wishing to speak to me or to my officials used the services of Gervais-Gagnon. I can therefore say that the allegation by the hon. member has fallen flat-as a pancake.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC]

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

Clearly, the Minister of Canadian Heritage has put himself in a totally unacceptable situation by becoming indebted to a lobbyist whose firm represents a number of groups dealing with his department.

In light of the new developments, can the Minister of Canadian Heritage tell us whether he discussed his case with the government's ethics counsellor?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, let us not forget that the Prime Minister himself rose in this House to say that he had raised the issue with his ethics counsellor. That is all I know. But, if there are other statements to be made, they will be made by those responsible.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC]

I have a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker.

Given the incredible situation in which the Minister of Canadian Heritage has unfortunately put himself and the delicate situation in which his carelessness has put his officials, does the Minister of Canadian Heritage not think that the best way to rehabilitate his department is, unfortunately for him, to resign immediately?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, when one obeys the rules, does what everyone in this House does, that is, attend fundraisers, and observes the rules established by Elections Canada, one does not harm one's department.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, first of all I thank the leaders of the Liberal-Bloc coalition for excluding question period from their deal to muzzle Parliament today. This is truly appreciated by members on this side of the House.

Yesterday the Prime Minister told the House that all the facts are known about the names and money contributed by guests at the heritage minister's last supper. Now we learn the amount of money raised will not be made public by Elections Canada until July. We learned the official tally could well exceed the $12,000 disclosed thus far and we learned that the identity of many of the guests and the exact number in attendance at the dinner remain a mystery.

How does the Deputy Prime Minister explain the contradiction between these facts and what the House was told yesterday?

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

Mr. Speaker, the member would be very happy to provide the complete list of the people who participated in the dinner. Last year the Reform Party, which took a public position before the royal commission on electoral financing that it did not support public donations and tax credits for political parties, saw no problem in accepting donations of $10,000 from Rogers Communication, $15,000 from John Labatt, $6,000 from Pulp and Timber LTD., $10,000 from Imperial Oil, and $4,000 from PanCanadian Petroleum.

I could go on but obviously the Reform Party sees absolutely no problem in fundraising when for itself. Obviously it should not see a problem for any political party that has an open and transparent process of fundraising, which is what we have done in this case.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, not only are there contradictions between what the Prime Minister told the House and the facts, but the Minister of Canadian Heritage cannot keep his story straight on this subject either.

The minister said most of the department contracts were doled out before his dinner for dollars. The fact is only two came before the dinner; the rest were awarded after the contractors coughed up $2,000 each. The minister also said his private dinner was a fundraiser for the Liberal Party of Canada when in fact the money went to pay off his campaign debts.

How does the heritage minister explain the contradiction between these facts and the things he has told the House?

[Michel Dupuy, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the interest of our colleagues in knowing what is happening when I give a fundraising event or when I participate. Next time I will invite them so they will be there if they want to have more knowledge of it.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Calgary Southwest, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the minister neglected to say what contract I might get if I attended the dinner.

We have here a real double standard. The chair of the justice committee sticks to his principles and his reward is to be removed from his position. Three Liberal MPs stick to the principle of representing their constituents' interests and their reward is to be removed from their positions.

The heritage minister on the other hand repeatedly violates the principles of ethical behaviour and he not only keeps his seat at the cabinet table, he is staunchly supported and defended by the Prime Minister. It appears the only principle the Prime Minister is prepared to defend in the House is loyalty to party.

Will the Deputy Prime Minister abandon this double standard, place ethics before loyalty and urge the Prime Minister to demand the resignation of the heritage minister?