Debates of March 6th, 1996

Canadian Sovereignty

[John Cummins, Reform, Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in 1985 an American coast guard icebreaker transited Canadian arctic waters without our permission.

In response, the current Prime Minister said the government had been humiliated and that the whole nation had been humiliated by this challenge to our sovereignty.

What will the Prime Minister do now that once again the U.S. is threatening to, in his words, humiliate us by challenging our sovereignty?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I strongly recommend to the hon. member that before he uses that kind inflammatory language he look specifically at the so-called U.S. legislation, the fishermen's protective act. It does not authorize the United States to use the coast guard against Canadian fishing boats. That is called a finding. It has no legal impact or legal authorization.

I suggest to the hon. member that before he begins to beat the drums and raise the temperature he read the legislation and realize that Canada has full rights, which we have exercised and continue to exercise, and full sovereignty over our inside waters.

[John Cummins, Reform, Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the language is the same as in 1985. Yesterday the transport minister said: "You cannot win with the Americans with rash and foolish behaviour". He should have given that advice to Brian Tobin before he slapped a transit fee on the Americans.

Negotiations over salmon with the U.S. broke down yesterday. There is no sign of an agreement. Now the U.S. has turned a fish dispute into a sovereignty showdown.

When will the government wake up to the needs of the west coast and figure out some way to undo the damage done by Brian Tobin, damage that could result in a violation of Canadian sovereignty?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that the former minister of fisheries, now the distinguished premier of Newfoundland, is one of the most ardent and effective representative this country has had in defending Canadian interests. We know full well that the present minister of fisheries from Newfoundland will follow in that tradition.

I want to point out a fundamental error in the hon. member's comments. Negotiations have not broken down. Both the United States and ourselves issued statements yesterday stating that negotiations will continue. We will continue to talk about a new fishing regime for this year's fishing season. We will continue to work out the criteria and the formula for a long term solution.

We believe in finding effective solutions to these problems, not engaging in wild rhetoric.

Immigration

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

On February 12, the Bloc Quebecois demanded that the Canadian government suspend all deportations of refugee claimants to Algeria, a country on the brink of civil war. Yet, as recently as yesterday, immigration officials were still deporting people to that country.

Does the minister agree that it is unacceptable to continue deporting people to Algeria and essential to review the cases of all Algerian nationals in light of the explosive situation prevailing in that country?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, there is an advisory committee that examines conditions in countries to which people are to be deported. Whenever this committee meets, it reviews the situation as a whole, what is happening inside the country, how past deportations went, whether the situation changes from day to day, and whether or not deportations should be temporarily suspended. In summary, every time someone is deported from Canada after having exhausted all avenues of appeal provided for in Canadian legislation, we assess the potential risks of sending this person back to his or her country. If we do send someone back, it is with the assurance that this person will be able to go home without facing persecution.

At this time-which does not mean that the situation will not change in a few days, next week or next month-we are still deporting people to Algeria.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, given the climate of violence prevailing in Algeria, does the minister recognize that Algerian nationals should benefit from a suspension of deportation measures just like the citizens of Rwanda, Burundi and Afghanistan?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, each situation is assessed on its own merits. Again, the situation is reviewed on a periodic basis. Even in the case of Burundi or Rwanda, the situation will be assessed regularly week after week. All deportation suspensions are temporary. In this case, there is no temporary suspension for the time being.

Mirabel International Airport

[Raymond Lavigne, Liberal, Verdun—Saint-Paul, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development.

Now that the firm Aéroports de Montréal has indicated what its plans are for the two airports, could the government tell us whether it is prepared to grant free zone status to Mirabel to promote and ensure its long term economic development?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Secretary of State (Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.

As you know, last December, we tabled Bill C-102 to enhance Canada's duty referral program.

This new legislation provides for the creation of so-called free zones, which are actually free trade zones. Businesses and regions looking to implement very innovative projects may request the designation of such zones. Officials of the Federal Office of Regional Development and of Aéroports de Montréal are currently

considering, in collaboration with Revenue Canada, whether or not a free zone could be created under the new legislation to help the Mirabel area.

Goods And Services Tax

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, during the last election the Liberals quite clearly stated that they would scrap, kill, abolish the GST.

Yesterday the finance minister waved the red book around, somewhat like a white flag, and said that the government meant harmonize, not scrap. In fact it meant augment, not abolish. Canadians know what they heard from Liberals during the last election campaign. They simply will not forget it.

My question is for the Prime Minister. When will he live up to his promise and the promise of members of his caucus, to scrap, that is kill, that is abolish the GST, unlike what he says on page 22 of the red book?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have a book that is quite well known across the country.

On page 22 it said: "A Liberal government will replace the GST with a system that generates equivalent revenue, is fair to the consumers and small business and minimizes disruption to small business, and promotes federal-provincial co-operation and harmonization". That is the promise.

[The Speaker]

Members can quote directly from whatever books they like, but I would ask them to please not show them off. We are going to get into the use of props.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, thank you. Red is dead, because here are some of the things they said during the election: "I would abolish the GST".

[Sheila Finestone, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Take your jacket off, Deb.

[Mary Clancy, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Time to be true blue.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Beaver River.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would hate to think during International Women's Week that I was being undressed in the House of Commons by this government.

During the election-

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

One day we are being seduced; the next day we are being undressed. Before we go much further, would the member put her question.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Beaver River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, regardless of what was in the red book, the finance minister said: "I will abolish the GST". "We hate it and we will kill it," said the Prime Minister. "Scrap it," said the revenue minister. And of course there are those words that we have all come to love: "If the GST is not abolished, I will resign", said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Why is the government going to expand and hide the GST in a secret supertax, instead of just plain killing it?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I have to deal with the bare facts.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Saint-Maurice, QC]

We have put in writing that the GST will not be there and will be replaced by a system that will be a better one.

As it is the tradition, I can table the red book and the hon. member can table the red coat and then she would be dressed in black which will show the future of the Reform Party.