Debates of June 11th, 1996

Taxation

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' new GST scheme is a perfect example of how taxes, taxes, taxes kill jobs, jobs, jobs.

Ending the notional input credits on used goods is nothing but a sneaky back door method of driving up taxes and prices. Meanwhile dealers employ people to sell used goods, from cars at auctions, to stamps, to furniture, to RVs and boats, and all of those industries are threatened.

Why is the finance minister gutting jobs in the used goods industry by piling job killing GST on GST?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that harmonization leads to greater job creation. That is clear. The member's position is simply nonsensical. Harmonization is the reason the Canadian Manufacturers Association supports it, the reason the Canadian Chamber of Commerce supports it and the reason the Retail Sales Council supports it. The fact is it is the reason the Canadian Federation of Independent Business supports it. Everybody out there wants to create jobs and wants to support harmonization.

When will the minister wake up and smell the roses?

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that is what Canadians are asking.

Taxes, taxes, taxes kill jobs, jobs, jobs. Since the government came to power it has raised taxes $10.5 billion, mostly through these kinds of sneaky back door schemes.

How does the finance minister reconcile these job killing tax promises with his own government's red book promise to make jobs the number one priority of his government and his own budget promise not to raise taxes?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I gave the member a promotion. I take it back.

If the hon. member wants to talk about jobs, 624,000 new jobs have been created. That is more jobs than France and Germany combined. In the last five months, 130,000 new jobs have been created.

The number of full time jobs is going up month after month. The government has brought in program after program for high technology, for trade. They are all programs for job creation. And every single one of them was opposed by the Reform Party that simply does not know what the modern economy is all about.

Blood Supply

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.

Despite the lessons learned in the contaminated blood scandal, we discovered on the weekend that a number of hemophiliacs are still having to deal with poor quality blood products. Health Canada, which has the job of ensuring a safe supply, is still not playing its role.

How does the minister explain that Health Canada has again allowed poor quality health products to get through, leaving it up to the hemophiliacs themselves to look after their own safety?

[David Dingwall, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member makes a very serious allegation. I am not aware of the details of the allegation, but if she wishes to provide me with additional detail I would be happy to examine it with my senior officials.

However, if the hon. member does not have the details of what she is suggesting, I think she should apologize to the House and to the officials of the department.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this information comes from a Canadian Press article published on the weekend, which said that some hemophiliacs had reported that the blood products they were using from a particular company were of poor quality.

Since it will take a long time to redesign the blood supply system and since safety standards are currently the minister's responsibility, could the minister propose measures under his jurisdiction that could be implemented immediately and that would protect hemophiliacs until the new supply system is in place?

[David Dingwall, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member says she read this in an article and so informs the House.

All I ask of the hon. member to do is provide me with specific information and I will examine it. If the Minister of Health is going to have to examine each and every allegation or alleged allegation of some individual somewhere in the country, that would be my entire responsibilities as the Minister of Health.

If the hon. member is serious about the allegation she will provide the evidence so that we can take corrective action.

Regional Development

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton—York—Sunbury, NB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the secretary of state responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

As the government continues to redefine its role in regional economic development, and as the emphasis of ACOA broadens from providing funds to other kinds of support, could the minister tell the House what is being done to enhance Atlantic Canada's opportunities with regard to federal government procurement?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Secretary of State (Veterans)(Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)]

Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is a development agency with an excellent record.

Procurement is one of the many roles that it is involved in and it costs very few dollars. This is an area where ACOA will make sure that Atlantic Canadian firms are aware of major federal government contracts and have an opportunity to be involved in them.

ACOA also promotes the capability of Atlantic firms for the international market.

Fisheries

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

It is bad enough that the minister came up with a plan that is going to destroy the livelihoods of thousands of B.C. fishermen, but on top of that, this Liberal minister is seeding even more division and anger by creating two commercial fisheries with different rules, different quotas and different privileges. This Liberal government promised equality but it does not practice it.

How does this Liberal government expect Canadians to accept the fact that natives will be permitted to fish commercially in the Alberni Inlet when non-natives will not? Why will this minister not stand up and smell the roses?

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member might be a bit confused when he talks about the two commercial fisheries.

Concerning the first commercial fishery that he degraded, just before coming to the House I was briefed by Mr. Matkin who is the chair of the committee that is doing the licence buy-back. In an hour's briefing Mr. Matkin reported very positively on how the plan was proceeding. I am sure the hon. member is very pleased to hear that this plan is getting more and more support as its success becomes even more apparent.

On the second point, with respect to the aboriginal fishery, the hon. member knows that the priority for salmon is escapement or conservation; aboriginal food, social and ceremonial; and then recreation and commercial fishery. This priority is being followed. It is very much in line with the aboriginal fishery strategy of which I am sure the hon. member is aware, but he must have forgotten during his question.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the minister is listening to his paid advisers and not thinking in realistic terms.

On Friday an injunction to stop this aboriginal commercial fishery was not granted, but the court said very clearly that

fishermen had been prejudiced by the minister's actions and that the fishermen had only the minister to blame for their situation.

Why does the minister not admit that he has totally screwed up the fishing industry on the B.C. coast? Why does he not admit that he has created the most divisive fishing climate in Pacific coast history? Why does the minister not resign if he cannot handle his job?

[Fred Mifflin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the question was but I will try to address the intonation of the hon. member.

My only comment is that I am disappointed and I am surprised. With the new, moderate approach of the Reform Party I was expecting a different kind of question, so I will take his comment under advisement.

Day Care Services

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The human resources development minister contends that the resource envelope made available to the provinces for day care services was cut by 60 per cent because of the provinces' lack of interest in his program. But according to Canadian Press, the correspondence the minister received from the provinces said just the opposite.

Where did the funds the federal government was about to invest in day care services in Canada really go?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, the proposal put forward by the Government of Canada before last Christmas regarding child care is well known. It was indicated at the time that funds were available, should the provinces want to participate in a national child care program.

I do not wish to contradict Canadian Press, because it would be terrible to get into a debate with Canadian Press at this time about the content of the letters in question.

Not only did the provinces express reservations about a national program in their letters, some going as far as rejecting the idea, but we had the opportunity to meet all our colleagues from coast to coast and not one of them told us: "Yes, we have reached a consensus to go ahead with a national child care program".

That said, our position has always been that we can work in partnership with the provinces to find solutions to the real problems facing those who would like to see a day care system put in place to meet their needs.

[Christiane Gagnon, Bloc, Québec, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec minister responsible for family matters has developed a five-year plan calling for the creation of 22,000 day care spaces over four years. On April 24, she wrote the Minister of Human Resources Development, asking him to transfer to her, with no strings attached, the share of federal funding coming to Quebec.

When does the minister plan to answer Pauline Marois' letter?

[Douglas Young, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, if the Government of Quebec and other governments change their minds and decide to participate in a national day care program, we are naturally quite prepared to sit down and negotiate with them.

In this particular instance, that is certainly not the case. If it is only a matter of transferring funds with no strings attached, then they will have to speak to someone other than me, because I am not in the habit of sending money anywhere without making sure the interests of Canadian taxpayers are protected.

Taxation

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the new seniors' benefit announced by the Minister of Finance is an exercise in duplicity.

In the massive restructuring of the benefits to seniors, the minister has slipped into the fine print a rule that will tax low income seniors at a rate of 50 per cent on income over their seniors' benefit. That is the same rate millionaires and billionaires pay in this country.

Will the minister please explain this massive tax grab on low income seniors.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, in a time of shrinking financial resources, especially in a time when the population of seniors is expected to grow, it is important for the government to conserve its resources and basically focus on those who will need the help the most. That is exactly what we have done.

The alternative I suppose would have been what the Reform Party advocated which would have virtually eviscerated, decimated the federal government's support for senior citizens. However, we are not prepared to do that. We are going to ensure that senior citizens are able to retire in dignity.

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance says he does not want to eviscerate payments to seniors but when they earn more than $11,500 they are on a 50 per cent tax rate. That is the fact announced by the Minister of Finance.

Why is he doing that? Why is he penalizing seniors? Who needs the money more, this government or seniors who are struggling to get by?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the retirement system in this country effectively has three pillars: the OAS, the GIS, which as a result of our changes projected ahead we are going to ensure will be there for young Canadians and the Canada pension plan which we will be discussing next week with the provinces in order to make sure it is there for young Canadians. There is the whole scheme of retirement plans and RRSPs which have extensive tax benefits to ensure that a number of the people the hon. member is referring to will have a decent pension.

I remind the hon. member that our changes will take place in the year 2001. Those who are currently 60 years of age or over will be protected whereas the plan that was suggested by the Reform Party would have effectively gutted seniors' pensions immediately.

Trade

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister for International Trade.

A United Nations international study shows there are significant increases in foreign investment in Canada. What is the government doing so that Canadians continue to benefit from the jobs foreign investment creates?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, new international business investment is at a record level in Canada. It has doubled in the last decade. That means one in ten jobs in this country is as a result of the flow of international investment. In fact, 50 per cent of our total exports, 75 per cent of our manufactured exports, flow out of that international investment.

It is a positive message for Canadians. We want to get more of it. We have a high priority and we have a lot that attracts people to Canada, because we are a gateway into NAFTA, a market of 370 million people. We have the productivity, we have the workforce, the competitive wages. We have the infrastructure, the energy supplies. We have all the things we need, including compatibility of technology through our metric system, to attract people to invest in Canada, not to mention our very solid quality of life.

Haitian Police Force

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In answer to a question from the official opposition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs pledged, on March 1st, to ensure "that those who have been trained here in Canada will have full access and opportunity in the Haitian police force".

Three months later, and after a visit from the President of Haiti to Canada and a trip to Haiti by the minister, the situation remains unchanged.

Can the minister tell us why, three months after his commitment in this House, and given that Canada is leading, at its own expense, the UN mission in Haiti, more than 30 police officers trained in Canada are still waiting to be integrated into the Haitian force?