Debates of Nov. 20th, 1996

[The Speaker]

As is our practice on Wednesdays, we will now sing O Canada, which will be led by the hon. member for Madawaska-Victoria.

Crime Prevention

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday the Waterloo Region Community Safety and Crime Prevention Council released its report on making Waterloo region a safer and more secure community. The report is the result of 14 months of hard work by over 80 members of the task force who represent a cross-section of my community.

The report states that crime prevention is everyone's concern and challenges the community to imagine a community in which all members can be safe and feel safe. The report notes that while Waterloo region has a low relative crime rate, residents have an increased fear of crime.

The 50 recommendations of the report challenge the community to fight crime and be involved in crime prevention by dealing with the root causes of crime. The report notes that the offender of tomorrow is the vulnerable child of today, and that physically abused children are five times more likely to be violent adults.

I salute the council for its valuable work. It will help in maintaining Waterloo region as one of the safest and most secure communities in Canada.

Mining Industry

[Bernard Deshaies, Bloc, Abitibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the mining industry plays an important role, not only in my riding of Abitibi, but also in the whole economy of Quebec and Canada. I am pleased to welcome the delegates of this industry, who are here in Ottawa on the lobbying day of the campaign to support the mining industry.

This industry unquestionably plays a key role in Quebec. It employs over 17,500 people, pays $889 million in salaries, and generates over $3 billion in mining shipments.

The scheduled meetings with members of Parliament will provide these delegates with an opportunity to clearly state their needs regarding the regulatory reform that is required to promote investments in the mining sector. So far, the federal government has made nice promises, but taken little concrete action. I hope the representations made by industry officials will prompt the government to quickly take action.

Mining

[Darrel Stinson, Reform, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I welcome the Keep Mining in Canada group to Ottawa. Today has also been declared National Day of the Child.

Some of the most important factors in a child's life are: whether their parents have a well paying job; whether children grow up in a stable community with adequate health care and education; and whether they can look forward to getting a good job when they finish school. Keeping the successful mining industry flourishing in Canada will help provide all those things: good jobs for today and tomorrow; a sound tax base to pay for hospitals and schools; and stable communities, especially across rural Canada.

Therefore, I urge the government to deliver quickly on its many promises to streamline environmental regulations and other red tape which affects mining. If mining industry dollars are to remain in Canada, this government needs a fresh start to convince international investors that Canada once again wants mining jobs with their many spin-offs that benefit every sector of this nation's economy.

Dr. Herb Dickieson

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the federal NDP caucus is pleased to congratulate Dr. Herb Dickieson, the leader of the Prince Edward Island New Democrats. On Monday Dr. Herb became the first New Democrat to be elected in P.E.I. We are confident that his presence in the legislature will make a big difference for the people of P.E.I. I first met Dr. Dickieson when I spoke at his nomination meeting in 1995 and sensed at that time that he was going to make history for the NDP.

Atlantic Canadians have demonstrated they are sick of having their votes taken for granted by the Liberal Party as they receive bash after bash from Liberal policies. The federal Liberals will experience a similar fate in Atlantic Canada when the next federal election rolls around. Atlantic Canada is not a Liberal colony but a free and democratic region of Canada where real political choices are available and real political choices are embraced.

With Alexa McDonough as our leader, the choice for many Atlantic Canadians in the next federal election will be the NDP.

Mining

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, over the last decade the Canadian mining industry has become an example to the world in making sustainable development an essential part of its activities.

The Mining Association of Canada was the first mining body in the world to develop a national environmental policy based on the concept of sustainable development. In addition, Canadian mining companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on environmental related projects, more than $300 million in 1993 alone.

One key example of the mining industry's commitment to the environment is its accelerated reduction and elimination of toxics program. Already Canadian mining companies have come close to meeting their emission reduction targets for the year 2000. This is almost five years ahead of schedule.

On behalf of all members of the House, I congratulate the Mining Association of Canada and its member companies on this outstanding achievement. I encourage them to expand upon their commitment to sustainable development with new and innovative initiatives.

Mineral And Metal Policy

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to tell you about the government's new policy on minerals and metals, and the renewal of the federation.

This government is committed to a flexible and dynamic approach to federalism. The new minerals and metals policy is based on a fundamental recognition by this government of provincial ownership and management of mineral resources. The policy describes a sharply focused role for the government in minerals and metals that is tied to core federal responsibilities such as international trade and investment, science and technology and aboriginal affairs. Through the policy the government commits itself to building effective and durable partnerships with the provinces and territories.

By promoting the establishment of partnerships, the new policy on minerals and metals will help renew the federation and make sure the industry continues to make a major contribution to the economic and social well-being of Canadians, right into the 21st century.

Mining

[Stan Dromisky, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the House of the fourth annual Canada Forum and Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association joint conference which is taking place today in the gateway to the west, the wonderful city of Thunder Bay.

The conference, sponsored by Placer Dome Canada and Inco Ltd. among others, will focus on maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship between mining companies and aboriginal communities. It demonstrates the willingness of these two communities to share in the economic and employment opportunities offered by Canada's mineral resources while simultaneously respecting our environment.

This event truly demonstrates how different stakeholders can work together effectively to their mutual benefit and to the benefit of the Canadian economy. I commend the conference organizers and participants for setting such an excellent example for all Canadian industries.

National Child Day

[Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Bloc, Laval Centre, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the fourth anniversary of National Child Day. This day was proclaimed by the Canadian government to recognize two initiatives taken by the United Nations: the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child.

I have the honour of being the grandmother of two. I feel it is essential to tell our children that our future is their future since, some day, they will take over from us.

In Canada, one child out of five lives in poverty. This day reminds us that we have a lot of work to do to ensure a better future for these children.

We are overjoyed by the energy and the spontaneous love displayed by our children. Today, we are telling them that we love them.

Canadian Airlines

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Transportation and the Prime Minister will attend the opening of a new power plant in British Columbia. They think that because this government has provided $30 million to this plant it will deflect some of the criticism they have received for giving $87 million to Bombardier while refusing to provide support to Canadian Airlines.

There has been a total of $117 million in giveaways. No wonder Canadian Airlines employees feel there is a double standard.

If Canadian Airlines fails, it will cost the taxpayers almost $1 billion. It appears that the Liberal government would rather see Canadian fail than reduce some of the taxes that are bleeding the company dry.

The solution to saving Canadian Airlines and thousands of other businesses is simple: bring government spending under control, balance the budget, reduce taxes, and let companies remain profitable so their workers can keep their jobs.

Quebec Language Policy

[Sheila Finestone, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the new restrictive language policy unveiled by the Quebec government last week is shocking and counterproductive to say the very least.

The Parti Quebecois in its attempt to appease party hard liners before its policy convention this weekend has come out with a frontal attack on the rights of the English minority in Quebec, making access to services in their own language more difficult.

This exclusion act can only exacerbate tensions, erode social cohesion and heighten differences between Quebecers. This narrow minded policy comes at a time when the Quebec government is trying to polish its image by promoting the province as a tolerant and open society in order to attract foreign investment.

The rights and freedoms of all Quebecers should not be held hostage by the governing party in its appeasement of some of its rank and file ideologues. It is obvious that the spirit of Centaur needs to be revived. Please try to live it at the convention. Show openness to diversity, for these acts do not reflect the Quebec society that we love.

National Child Day

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is National Child Day. It is a day to recognize the importance of children in our lives and to celebrate their accomplishments.

This morning I had the honour of presenting the "You Made a Difference" award to four distinguished youths who unselfishly risked their lives to save the lives of others. Mark Zuccala, Mike Nicolitsis and Kevin Albert were recognized for rescuing three young children trapped in an automobile. Another true hero, six-year old Christopher Ings sustained injuries himself as he attempted to protect these small children with his own little body.

The actions of these kids is truly remarkable. On behalf of my colleagues I would like to thank and congratulate them on a job very well done.

I would also like to thank Janis Machin and Bernard Muzeen of Our Kids Foundation who played a key role in establishing National Child Day and who continue to work tirelessly on behalf of Canada's children.

I invite all Canadians to join in celebrating National Child Day. Please make it a very special and memorable day. And for those who are celebrating their birthday today, Happy Birthday.

International Day Of The Child

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, St. Boniface, MB]

Mr. Speaker, today is the International Day of the Child. Since it was elected, our government has taken a number of concrete measures to improve the quality of life of our children and our families.

These measures have included, for instance, establishing the prenatal nutrition program, proposals for changes in the system for collecting support payments, an increase in the maximum annual contribution to the registered education savings plan, and so forth.

At its biennial convention, our party also adopted a number of high priority resolutions in which we made a commitment to fight child poverty and do everything that is necessary to put an end to the exploitation of children.

Our party and our government are already committed to this cause, and our work will not cease until all children will be able to enjoy freely the days of their childhood.

Free Trade

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when they came to power, the federal Liberals suddenly became proponents of free trade, a position which has always been defended by the sovereignist movement.

Last summer, Canada signed a free trade agreement with the state of Israel. Trade between Israel and Canada is worth about $450 million annually.

This week, Canada signed a free trade agreement with Chile. In 1995, trade between the two countries was worth $666 million.

In light of these agreements, we conclude that the Canadian government should have no reservations about reaching an agreement with a country with which trade is worth more than $60 billion annually, while also helping to maintain of 800,000 direct jobs.

Therefore, we have every reason to believe that a sovereign Quebec will be one of Canada's trading partners par excellence.

National Child Day

[Daphne Jennings, Reform, Mission—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the best interests of children should be a benchmark against which government policies are measured. There is no better way to ensure the well-being of children than to make families a priority in our society and in our decision making starting right here in the House, this home of Canadian values, if you will.

Today is National Child Day. I remind this House that in 1989 the United Nations passed the convention of the child which gave children around the world access to their families. Canada recognized that convention in 1991, so why do Canadian children not have access to their families?

The best interests of children reside in the family. The first step was taken in October when the House supported my motion to recognize the family as a building block of society and then unanimously agreed to protect and enhance family interests.

Now is the time for the government to fulfil this commitment on behalf of children, to commit to a fresh start for children. Surely on National Child Day it is not only time to acknowledge each child's right to his or her family, including grandparents, but also time to act on it.

[Beth Phinney, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I too wish to comment on this the fourth anniversary of National Child Day.

National Child Day was designated to commemorate two historic United Nations events: the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959, and the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.

This convention, ratified by Canada in 1991, is aimed at ensuring the survival, protection and development of children. It provides a framework to value and respect children and youth as full-fledged human beings. The convention addresses many aspects of the lives of children and youth: proper nutrition; access to health care and education; protection from exploitation and abuse; and the right to express their opinions and to participate in matters that affect them.

Children are our future. As a society we must do everything we can to ensure their happiness, their good health and their ability to lead full and productive lives.

I call on all members of the House to join in the celebration of National Child Day.

Environmental Assessment

[Nick Discepola, Liberal, Vaudreuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our major newspapers reported today that federal and provincial environment ministers are expected to sign an agreement very shortly on environmental assessment.

Under this national agreement on environmental harmonization, the Canadian government will transfer major responsibilities to provinces.

This agreement, which was the subject of arduous negotiations during the past two years, is especially important because it will help improve environmental protection while eliminating duplication and jurisdictional conflicts.

In the throne speech in February, our Prime Minister launched an appeal to all Canadians to work together to protect the environment. This agreement is the appropriate response to this appeal and is a reflection of the many agreements concluded between our government and provincial governments to make our Canadian federation more efficient.

Taxation

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Bloc Quebecois released its analysis of the federal government's corporate tax expenditures. Of the $9 billion to $10 billion the federal government sacrifices annually in taxes not collected from major corporations, primarily, we estimate that the Minister of Finance could easily recover some $3 billion to be used in promoting job creation.

With the government going after the unemployed, cutting transfers for social assistance, transfers for health care and transfers for post-secondary education, how can the Minister of Finance justify still failing, after three years in power, to systematically evaluate all corporate tax expenditures, which have not been reviewed in years, and keeping them as they stand.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois tabled a sober report yesterday. I consider it a very professional one. I thank the Leader of the Opposition and the members here for their work.

There are many things in the report we agree with. They are either things we are looking at or things that we are in fact currently working on. There is certainly material for debate, and this is a good start.

To my understanding, in response to the Leader of the Opposition's specific question, it is not $3 billion that we can recover, if I understand the report correctly, but $3 billion that can be put into job creation, which is the very aim of the Mintz committee currently looking at the situation from the same point of view.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I in turn would thank the Minister of Finance for his objectivity in recognizing that the work of the Bloc represents a very substantial contribution to public finances. Certainly, it is the most substantial contribution made by an opposition party, especially in opposition.

Despite these kind words for my friend, I am nevertheless obliged to say to the Minister of Finance that he is hiding behind his committee because everyone knows the report will be released only next year, after the federal elections. People want to know now what the government will do.

Should the Minister of Finance, who seems to recognize reason, not make substantial changes in tax expenditures right now, as we are suggesting he do and use this money for other tax measures that would help create jobs in small and medium businesses, for example? That is what it means to be proactive in creating jobs. This is what the people are expecting and not getting from the government.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I received the report favourably first, because the reports of the Bloc Quebecois have changed in the past three years. Second, I must say the quality of the report is very similar to what the Liberal Party submitted on the environment, the economy and other areas when it was in opposition.

That said, the aim is to ensure that the basic impact of government spending, be it tax credits, tax exemptions or other incentives is to promote job creation. This has been our philosophy from the start. This is why we have eliminated a list of loopholes three pages long. These loopholes did not promote job creation. We are going to continue the job, I hope with the co-operation of the Bloc Quebecois.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I have to say once again to the Minister of Finance that we will of course co-operate with him when he is reasonable. When he wants to save taxpayers' money, of course we will work with him. When he repents and finally is prepared to collect taxes from those who should be paying, of course we will co-operate and we will co-operate with him. He may rest assured, the Bloc will co-operate.

Since he is in good humour, I will go a step further. In our document, we established that a sample of 27 major Canadian corporations with profits of $7 billion in 1994 paid income tax at a rate barely above 6.5 per cent, whereas the corporate rate is usually around 30 per cent.

This does not concern the minister of defence, so I would ask him to allow me to ask my question of his colleague.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Let us ignore him in any case.

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

He is well versed in defence matters, but not in things financial, unfortunately. Can the Minister of Finance set up a mechanism guaranteeing Quebecers and Canadians that business and especially big business will pay the government the taxes it is supposed to within a reasonable period of time, while maintaining intact the concept of deferred income tax? Some simple adjustments need be made. We would like to know from the Minister of Finance whether he would agree to act quickly in this matter as the Bloc asks him to?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, as regards deferred taxes, I think the Leader of the Opposition is going a bit beyond his report, which was more subtle. In the report, the Bloc acknowledged there were advantages to having taxes deferred. This is our position exactly.

On the other hand, this is why there is a tax on major corporations. We want to be sure they pay their fair share, and this is the case.