House of Commons Hansard #234 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebec.
Raymond Chan LiberalSecretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
Mr. Speaker, I have been sitting here listening to the complaints of the hon. member of the Bloc, the official opposition.
There are two points I should like to clear up before I deliver my speech. It is sad for me to see in the House that both the Bloc and the third party are seeking an alliance and to see the Reform Party trying to ask for friendship from the separatists. I could not take that.
Raymond Chan Liberal Richmond, BC
You were not here to hear the praise that was offered by that party.
As an immigrant I came to this country at the age of 17. My family went to Hong Kong and I came from Hong Kong to Canada. I came to Canada as it is. To hear the separatists day in and day out in the House trying to destroy the country that I came for is very sad.
There is also another point. The hon. member from the Bloc was talking about the provincial rights the bill infringed upon. This is not true. There is no change with respect to provincial rights. Where a province has rights today it will continue to have rights after the bill is law.
What all provinces and territories along our coast will gain is the federal government's commitment to work together with them to ensure an integrated approach to providing greater protection of our marine environment, improve the management of our ocean resources, and ultimately better economic opportunities for our coastal communities. The Bloc's accusations are not true.
I am pleased to join my colleagues and members of the House in the second reading of the oceans act. I rise today in support of this legislation, which will establish major new rights over the oceans that surround our country. Canadians pushed hard in the councils of the world for the opportunity to establish these rights. The new zones grant Canada powers that go well beyond the powers our country asserted in the past.
As the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans said, Canadians are not naive. We know that the oceans act will not forever end maritime disagreement with other countries. There are undoubtedly bound to be some problems in the future with our circumpolar and Pacific and Atlantic friends and neighbours.
What the act will do is put in place a clear definition of jurisdiction that is fully supported by global agreement. The world recognizes Canada's jurisdiction over Canadian waters and now we must continue to work hard. With ownership comes both opportunity and responsibility. With jurisdiction comes stewardship. With respect for the efforts of the past comes respect for the needs of the future.
For all of the excellent co-operation that went into establishing oceans jurisdiction, the truth is that Canada's policies for actual management of oceans were fragmented. The same spirit of partnership, co-ordination, co-operation, and innovation that enabled Canada to gain authority over ocean resources must now be used to manage those resources.
We have before us the task of making sure that the pieces all fit together: conservation and commercialization, deep ocean research and cold ocean rescues, emergency responses and sustainability, navigational safety and national security, national goals and re-
gional initiatives, resource restoration and job creation, inspection and protection.
There are pieces of the puzzle that seem to grow larger and larger in size and importance: climate change, ecotourism, aquaculture, Arctic pollution, interrelationship of species, expanding human population, new technologies.
The oceans themselves are constantly fluctuating. They are independent, living ecosystems. Yet they are interconnected and linked with one another and with the entire global environment. Just as in the tropical rain forests, there are yet unknown medicines to be found in the oceans and yet unknown dangers to be faced.
The oceans act defines a new vision for Canada's oceans. It allows for the development of a new management regime to protect its oceans. This is a regime based on co-operation, collaboration, and partnership. It allows the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to enter into collaborative agreements and partnerships with all stakeholders to implement this ocean management regime.
The oceans act does not attempt to create a fully developed ocean management strategy. It recognizes that we must work collectively. The bill before members of the House of Commons creates the jurisdictional foundation and some of the policy framework so that all Canadians can build the strategy together.
We must have a better understanding and knowledge of the oceans. Science must be multi-disciplinary. Partnership across organizations and disciplines and sectors of society is essential. Precisely because our ocean jurisdiction is so huge, our ocean sciences must be on the leading edge. Better information is essential for better decision making. Better science is essential for economic viability and ecological sustainability. Canada's credibility in future ocean negotiations and future ocean trade will depend on the quality of our science.
The oceans act is tailored to increase, co-ordinate, and disperse scientific, environmental, and management information relating to our oceans and their resources. Marine resource management will be an important policy element in the building of a successful oceans strategy. Traditionally governments have carried out their responsibilities in consultation with stakeholders but not in partnership with them. The distinction is critical.
The old way must change and it is changing. The Atlantic Fisheries Resource Conservation Council now brings together industry, academia, and government to make recommendations on fishery conservation and the federal government now follows through on those recommendations. The time has come to expand such partnerships beyond fishery conservation, and the oceans act makes it possible to expand partnerships even further to encompass marine plants, underwater exploration and seabed mining, and a vast range of development activities that could impact in a marine environment.
A key element of an effective oceans strategy must be the consideration of environmental consequences in management decisions. It will take time, effort, and compromise to accomplish this, but Canada needs a functional ecosystems approach to oceans policy. Such an approach must converge across lines of jurisdiction and economic sectors. The issues of environmental concern must be addressed through a range of tools, including coastal zone management, pollution prevention, and marine environmental quality indicators and guidelines.
Another key element of a successful oceans strategy is the facilitation of marine trade commerce and development. It goes without saying that icebreaking, fish inspection, marine navigation services and ocean mapping have priorities in ocean trade and commerce. So do new ocean laboratory partnerships, technology development, regulatory harmonization, and resource assessment. This synergy of collective interests and integrated capabilities is recognized in the act and is exemplified in the new Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The increase in Canada's oceans jurisdiction marries well with the merger of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The new organization will comprise the principal civilian marine operational component of the Government of Canada. We will be able to realize efficiencies, streamline operations, integrate the operation of the coast guard and fisheries fleets, and promote multi-tasking. All of this will help us to work more effectively to provide high national standards and effective services.
For years we have supported commercial enterprises in the Arctic. We have ensured and will continue to ensure the safe movement of millions of dollars of cargo through ice filled waters and have provided sophisticated analysis in the operation of the St. Lawrence.
Commercial enterprises must have easy access to government data and we have to ensure that new ideas and technologies are transferred form government researchers to the private sector.
The expertise that Canadians have developed in forging oceans policy can be and should be the backbone of extraordinary new global market opportunities. That leads directly to a key element of an oceans management strategy, international relations. From the days when others denied John Cabots's discovery of the new world to the days when others denied Canada's right to protect the turbot, international relations have been centre stage in Canada's maritime saga. Canadians have shown that fisheries conservation will never be sacrificed on the altar of economic trade or political relations. We have shown that conservation is not a bargaining chip in a larger game. Our responsibility now is to make this legislation the turning point in our approach to all international ocean issues.
Canadians need to establish a strong and credible international strategy to carry our messages on marine pollution from ships, on the control of ocean dumping and coast zone management with our neighbours. Circumpolar oceans management, spill response assistance, international shipping, offshore energy, precise territorial boundary delineation, and emerging high seas issues will all require thoughtful leadership by Canadians globally and thoughtful examples by Canadians domestically.
Support from all Canadians for Canada's international actions is of enormous importance. I look forward to the active involvement of Canadians in forging Canada's position on emerging global ocean issues.
As the minister stated on Tuesday, the oceans act signals renewed federal leadership for oceans management. It signals the federal government's commitment to a comprehensive and co-operative approach to oceans policy. It signals that shared information, shared planning, and shared oceans stewardship are the wave of the future. It signals that Canada and Canadians are prepared to act in making the most of our ocean assets, opportunities, and obligations.
Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have to respond to the initial comments of the parliamentary secretary as he described his reaction to this whole Bloc-Liberal fight that is going on this morning.
Somehow he is trying to tie in some association between the Bloc Quebecois and the Reform Party. When he is making that kind of an analogy, how does the minister reconcile the fact that when it comes to acquiescing to the Bloc and it comes to electing vice-chairs, when it comes to making sure that the water is never ruffled, it is always the Liberals making a deal with the Bloc?
The idea that the Reform Party somehow has any similar vision to the Bloc is crazy. We have repeatedly said the Bloc Quebecois will be defeated, hopefully at the end of the month, that it will hopefully lose its reason for being here, which would be another sweet treat. It surely has the wrong vision about how to fix Canada.
I agree with the minister when he says Canada is a great place. It does need some changes though, and the way to change it is not to leave but to work within the system to make a better decentralized Canadian federation that can be better for all Canadians.
The goal of the Reform Party-
Oceans ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
My colleague, I noticed you were getting wound up. I thought I would give you a chance to catch your breath and come back at it right after question period, when the minister will also have a chance to get wound up.
It being 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(5) the House will now proceed to Statements by Members.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. John Willoughby, who has been working diligently for several years on a project called the Ellen Foundation.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a farm emigration policy on juveniles was established between England and Canada. This agreement brought 100,000 English children to Canada to work as farm labourers. These children came to be known as "home children".
Mr. Willoughby has just launched his book entitled Ellen -The Story of a Home Child who was sent to P.E.I. Ellen, as it turns out, was the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery.
The Ellen Foundation is dedicated to assist home children and their descendants to establish and locate their roots in the United Kingdom, to preserve the history and heritage of the home children, and to provide the information here and abroad on their story and their strong contribution to the building of Canada.
I congratulate John and wish him much success.
Maurice Godin Bloc Châteauguay, QC
Mr. Speaker, according to Robert Fairholm, an economist from a prestigious American firm, the financial markets will force Canada to quickly negotiate division of the debt and to maintain the existing economic ties between the two partners. He says that they will be seeking each other out to sign such an agreement.
Since Canada's is the worse external debt in the G-7, foreign investors will obviously want to protect their investments by forcing Canada to negotiate with Quebec. The financial markets will be there to cool down the emotions of those involved.
It is hard to believe that the Minister of Finance for Canada is incapable of grasping this and keeps saying that Canada could not negotiate a new partnership with Quebec even if it wanted to.
If the Minister of Finance forgets his duty as the manager of the Canadian debt, and if he forgets where the interests of Canadians and Quebecers lie, the financial markets and one of the worst debts in the western world will be there to remind him of that duty.
Bob Ringma Reform Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday one of our Canadian peacekeepers, Major Bruce Henwood, was injured when the jeep he was riding in hit a mine in Croatia. As a result Major Henwood had both legs amputated below the knee.
It is this unfortunate and horrid type of incident which underscores the dangerous and perilous duties performed by our peacekeepers working abroad. Major Henwood is one of many Canadian peacekeepers serving abroad who come face to face with this kind of reality every day.
On behalf of my colleagues from both sides of the House I extend to Major Henwood, as well as his family, friends and comrades in the field, our heartfelt regret over this tragic incident and our sincerest best wishes for his recovery.
Jane Stewart Liberal Brant, ON
Mr. Speaker, I draw to the attention of the House a concrete example of our government's commitment to day care.
In my riding of Brant we have day care centres attached to two of our local high schools. They provide care to the children of single adolescent parents who are continuing their education and to the children of mature students who are also parents.
Our thinking here is that if we provide appropriate day care to the children, their parents will continue with their education, which is so important to their future in terms of getting a job and in some cases to breaking the welfare trap.
Unfortunately because of significant provincial government cuts these facilities faced closure on October 1. Thanks to the quick action of my colleague, the Minister for Human Resources Development, we found funding through the human resources investment fund to keep the facilities open.
I congratulate him on recognizing the direct and important link between day care, jobs and education, and thank him for allowing us to continue this unique and effective day care strategy.
Jesse Flis Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, within the past two weeks I have had the honour of attending the official unveiling of two important plaques commemorating Canadians who served overseas during the first and second world wars.
On Thursday, September 21 a plaque was unveiled at the National War Memorial, a gift from the British people as a symbol of their abiding gratitude for Canada's support during both World War I and World War II.
On Tuesday, September 26 Lech Walesa, President of the Republic of Poland, approved the posthumous award of the Polish Home Army Cross to 26 Canadian airmen for their support in the liberation of Poland.
That ceremony took place at the Canadian Airmen Memorial in Ottawa at Confederation Park. Both actions and plaques serve as a permanent reminder of Canadian bravery and sacrifice in the protection of freedom, democracy and peace.
Karen Kraft Sloan Liberal York—Simcoe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am standing here to support the member for Churchill in his initiative to organize a sacred assembly. The assembly would bring together aboriginal and non-aboriginal spiritual leaders to begin a process of healing and reconciliation.
Spirituality, as the member says, has been the missing element in the political process to reclaim native land and the right to self-government. Spirituality has sustained native people for generations. The importance of spirituality was demonstrated during the recent standoff at Gustafsen Lake where a peaceful settlement resulted through the interventions of a native spiritual leader.
The member for Churchill has urged all his colleagues in the House to support his initiatives. I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Bernard Deshaies Bloc Abitibi, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois is very pleased with something said yesterday by the provincial member for Vaudreuil and the leader of the No side, Daniel Johnson. Commenting on the Cree referendum, he again indicated his total agreement with the basic principles of international law and therefore with the position of the sovereignists concerning territorial integrity. He clearly affirmed that Quebec is indivisible.
It is to be hoped that the eminent good sense in his words will reach the ears of his federal counterpart, the hon. member for Vaudreuil, who suggests that the people of West Island and those in West Quebec could hold their own referendum, like the Cree, with a view to breaking up Quebec. Let us be a little more serious here. The Republic of Baie d'Urfé does not seem to us to possess all of
the characteristics required of a state, particularly in international law. Would the Liberal members for Vaudreuil on the two different levels please take the time to get their act together?
Elwin Hermanson Reform Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK
Mr. Speaker, the publication Agriweek sums up the opinions of thousands of prairie producers affected by the Crow buyout. I quote:
The buyout exercise-is turning out to be distressingly like other government clerical undertakings: disorganized, confused, rigid, user unfriendly. Whoever designed this could not have had even a passing acquaintance with the workings of prairie agriculture and no one with experience in such things could have been consulted.
Except for the agriminister's admonition a fair arrangement should be made, there has been no guidance of any sort as to what would be fair and the payments office has scrupulously avoided giving any advice. Neither owners nor tenants could know what others were doing.
The landlord-tenant split of the payment will go down in history as among the most bizarre rules of any government farm program ever invented, as well as a source of owner-renter friction for years to come.
Prairie farmers know Liberal agricultural policies and programs usually end up a wreck.
Rey D. Pagtakhan Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, I commend the Information Highway Advisory Council for its excellent report published Wednesday by the industry minister.
The council's vision for the Infobahn of the future is distinctly Canadian. It will be a powerful engine to promote Canadian culture and identity, make government more accessible and accountable, create new wealth and new jobs for the benefit of all Canadians, and make Canada's health and educational sectors models for the rest of the world.
I am also pleased to see that the council's recommendation for dealing with illegal content such as hate propaganda mirror the intent of the motion I introduced in the House last January, which was adopted without dissent.
No doubt when these recommendations are fully adopted by the government we will have a guarantee that the information highway will be a highway of harmony, not of hate. No doubt we will have an effective tool to forge a renewed partnership among all levels of government as we face the social, political and economic challenges of the 21st century. I ask all colleges in the House-
Information HighwayStatements By Members
The Speaker
The hon. member for Dauphin-Swan River.
Marlene Cowling Liberal Dauphin—Swan River, MB
Mr. Speaker, the government is creating a climate of opportunity for rural Canadians and the people of Dauphin-Swan River are seizing these opportunities to diversify their economies and create jobs at home.
In particular I commend the people of Russell who are forging ahead with an ethanol plant that includes a gluten extracting component and a feedlot operation. Within the same community another group is working to develop a ski hill. The belief the community has in itself and in its future is clear.
I am pleased to be working with both these groups to help them achieve their goals.
I commend the people of Russell and area for the leadership role they are playing in diversifying their local economy and their enduring commitment to their community. It is this community spirit, this commitment to the future, that will ensure Canada remains one of the best countries in the world in which to live.
Paul Devillers Liberal Simcoe North, ON
Mr. Speaker, in his inaugural speech delivered to Quebec's National Assembly on November 29, 1994, the PQ premier said: "Today, I would like to conclude a pact of joint responsibility and solidarity with every Quebecer. Our government will collect from everyone what is owed to the public purse-but in return, we ask each Quebecer to help us put an end to the mad race toward illegality".
This righteous pronouncement by the PQ leader was not reflected in the comments made yesterday by his finance minister, who suggested that an independent Quebec might not pay his share of the national debt.
The time has come for the PQ leader to set the record straight and to tell us clearly and unconditionally whether he intends to assume his share of the debt if Quebec separates.
Philippe Paré Bloc Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the group of business people supporting the No side has finally
seen the light. Indeed, at a one-day conference of the Association du centre mondial de commerce, the chairman of the Canam Manac group, Mr. Marcel Dutil, made the following statement: "If it is yes, we will turn the page and carry on. We are all Quebecers, we are all nationalists, we all have different opinions, and the day after the referendum we will remain in Quebec".
Mr. Dutil's speech is in sharp contrast with the downright inexcusable and despicable comments made with regard to Quebecers by Messrs. Beaudoin and Garcia.
This common sense approach by the Quebec business leaders supporting the No side does not seem to be shared by Mr. Dufour, chairman of the Conseil du patronat du Quebec. While commenting Hydro-Quebec's withdrawal from his organization, he Dufour made veiled threats to Mr. Martineau when he said: "From now on, he will have to look for friends". End of quote. This type of insinuation must stop, and Mr. Dufour could learn a thing or two from Mr. Dutil about respect for Quebecers and for democracy.
Stephen Harper Reform Calgary West, AB
Mr. Speaker, before the quiet revolution, there were people in Quebec saying: "Keep quiet, stay there, and speak English". We do not hear that line in Quebec any more, but thanks to Alliance Quebec, it can now be heard in Alberta. Yesterday, in Calgary, Alliance Quebec warned the Reform Party to keep quiet during the referendum campaign.
The people of Alberta are aware that Alliance Quebec is an organization without public support, a front funded by the federal government to fuel misunderstandings between francophones and anglophones in Quebec and elsewhere, for partisan purposes.
The message from the Reform Party that Alliance Quebec does not want people to hear is that a No vote is a vote against separation while saying No to the status quo means no more subsidies for groups like Alliance Quebec.
If Alliance Quebec really wants the No side to win the referendum, they should keep quiet and remain in Alberta, where they could speak English all day long, like in the days before the quiet revolution.
Robert Bertrand Liberal Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC
Mr. Speaker, the PQ Minister of Finance has just sent a troubling message to the people of Quebec regarding the debt load an independent Quebec would have to carry.
Instead of coming across as and acting like a serious and responsible administrator, the PQ government's finance minister has decided to add to the uncertainty surrounding statements made by the Bloc leader by asking: "When Mr. Martin says that negotiations will be impossible, does it mean that he will shoulder full responsibility for the debt?"
Are we to understand from what the minister said that a PQ government might decide to stop paying its debts, while at the same time expecting its taxpayers to continue paying all their taxes? Is that the new concept of tax fairness that would be applied in an independent Quebec?
Ted McWhinney Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, in his budget speech, the PQ Minister of Finance announced that he was declaring war on "tax offenders". He said: "Before thinking about increasing the taxpayers' burden, we must make sure that everyone pays the government what they owe".
This is the same minister who, on February 8, made the following comment about the division of Canada's debt should Quebec become independent: "This is not our debt. It is Canada's debt". Yesterday, speaking before a student audience, he suggested that a separate Quebec may not assume its share of the debt.
How much confidence can the people of Quebec put in a finance minister who publicly tells taxpayers: "Do as I say, not as I do". On October 30, the people will say No to this kind of double talk.
Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, today marks the fifth anniversary of the World Summit for Children. Under the leadership of Canada, 70 nations pledged that by the year 2000 they would eliminate illiteracy, reduce malnutrition by half and provide universal access to clean water around the world.
This year UNICEF reports that as a result of the summit four million children in the third world will not only survive but will become full productive members of society. However more needs to be done since 13 million children are still likely to die each year for lack of basic health care and safe water.
I rise today to salute the excellent work of Results Canada which continues to promote the summit ideals. As a government we must continue to step up our efforts to ensure that the basic needs of all children worldwide are met by the year 2000.
Jay Hill Reform Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, in March 1994 I rose in the House to call on the government to delay the sale of the Grumman Goose while a dedicated group of Canadians in Prince George raised money to keep it in Canada.
This RCMP plane was built in 1944 and can land on water, snow or ground and has logged over 24,000 flying hours. It has seen service on both coasts, in Ottawa and the high Arctic. It has been used for drug busts, surveillance, rescues and air shows in addition to ferrying people and equipment.
I am pleased to report the federal and B.C. governments listened to the Save the Goose committee. Through the committee's efforts this piece of Canadian heritage has been saved for the enjoyment of future generations.
Today at 3 p.m. a retired RCMP pilot will formally hand over the log books of the Grumman Goose to the National Aviation Museum. I invite all members and the public to attend the ceremony.
Lucien Bouchard BlocLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, Quebecers will decide their political future on October 30. In order to make an enlightened choice, they are entitled to know the whys and wherefores of the two options before them: sovereignty-partnership, on the one hand, and the status quo, on the other.
I am therefore asking the Prime Minister if he and his ally, Daniel Johnson, will agree to take part in a real four-way televised debate with Jacques Parizeau and myself. Does he recognize that it is all the more vital he take part in such a debate because he alone is in a position to tell Quebecers what exactly awaits them if they vote no?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised, having known Mr. Parizeau for so many years, that he is suddenly losing his self-confidence and is afraid to face the leader of the No side, Mr. Johnson.
As for me, when the Leader of the Opposition suggested last spring that Parliament be adjourned in the fall, I decided to come to Parliament to have the privilege of meeting the Leader of the Opposition every day, at every question period. We have been here for hours, and I do not refuse to answer. The leader of the No side is Mr. Johnson, I believe; he made an agreement with Mr. Parizeau. Mr. Johnson will keep his word; he will face Mr. Parizeau. What is new is Mr. Parizeau's fear of facing Mr. Johnson.