The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has made great strides in helping to improve the Atlantic economy. In this time of major adjustment there is still an important role for ACOA, but a

Senate banking committee has suggested that ACOA be merged with other agencies.

Will the minister confirm the government's commitment to a strong and independent ACOA? Yes or no?

Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, the Senate banking committee provided the government with a number of recommendations with respect to the functioning of the government's banks as well as the regional development agencies. I will be responding very fully to that report on behalf of the government in the Senate committee in the coming weeks.

I would like to say to the hon. member as clearly as possible that the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the other regional development agencies continue to play an important role in this government's plan to assist small and medium size enterprises in the regions of the country to acquire the capital and the technology they need to build jobs and growth for people in their regions.

It is not my intention nor my plan in any way to collapse the agencies into Industry Canada or into the banks, but rather to use them as real economic tools to build jobs and growth for Canada.

The SenateOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC

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

I think it is fair to say that last night was a national embarrassment when the political hacks, flacks and bagmen in the Senate, including a Liberal senator, decided to call upon Canadian taxpayers to cough up about 600 million bucks to hand out to a bunch of land developers in Toronto.

Would the minister not agree that if we ever needed any evidence to suggest that the Senate should be abolished we now have it? Why does he not do just that?

The SenateOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

The Speaker

I am not sure that is an administrative responsibility of the Minister of Transport, but if he would like to answer the question I will give him permission to do so.

The SenateOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, in my capacity as acting Prime Minister, I can say that the element I liked of the question was the part in the preamble where the member criticized the decision of the Senate on Bill C-28.

Pearson International AirportOral Question Period

2:50 p.m.

Reform

Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, Pearson airport is a vital resource of the Ontario economy. Millions of business travellers depend on efficient airport service to give them an advantage in the global marketplace.

Under this government for two and one-half years the infrastructure at Pearson has continued to deteriorate. So much for infrastructure programs. For the sake of business confidence, we need to clear the air.

Will the Minister of Transport tell this House if he has a plan for the long, overdue redevelopment of Pearson?

Pearson International AirportOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I have already answered that question in response to an earlier question.

We regard Pearson airport as an airport of tremendous potential not just for southern Ontario but for the entire heartland of North America. Just as Vancouver is becoming the gateway airport for the Asia-Pacific, we want to have Pearson as the gateway for all Atlantic flights going into central North America. That is our objective.

To that end, three weeks ago we signed over letters of intent with a local airport authority, excellent people in the Toronto area who will be running the airport when we deal with the various items that have to be organized. We expect a final signing in January.

Pearson International AirportOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Reform

Ed Harper Reform Simcoe Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport knows the redevelopment of Pearson will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Now that the government has put taxpayers at risk for hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation, where will the minister get the same amount of money for construction?

Pearson International AirportOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we have undertaken a number of improvements in the Toronto Airport Authority which in total come to about $250 million despite the fact that we are handing it over to that local authority.

I am interested in the question. Finally comes from Reformers an admission that oh yes, the government and the public are going to be stuck for $600 million. That has been behind their questions to this date. Now they admit they know full well what the result was of that decision last night.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC

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

In its annual report released today in Paris, the Observatoire international des prisons reports numerous cases of abuse in the area of immigration.

Does the minister not realize that by turning a blind eye as she does on a whole host of abuse cases, she has actually started undermining the reputation Canada enjoys around the world? Will she finally call for an inquiry into abuse cases instead of into processes?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Saint-Henri—Westmount Québec

Liberal

Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration and Acting Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, did I hear correctly? Was the Canadian immigration system described as abusive? I cannot believe my ears.

Reports aside, do the members of the Bloc Quebecois not live in Canada? Do they not realize that the immigration system we have here is open, generous, welcoming, the most open in the world in fact? I will never stand for such statements coming from the Bloc.

Somalia InquiryOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Reform

Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence today is deflecting questions regarding General Boyle because he says the open public inquiry will get to the bottom of the matter. I would like to point out that this is a daily open public inquiry for the Canadian public. The Canadian public would appreciate a straight answer from that side of the House.

In the past, the Prime Minister has expressed his confidence in the chief of defence staff. Given the proof that we have seen today that the CDS disobeyed directives from the Privy Council Office and the Minister of National Defence's office, will the Prime Minister now restore confidence in the military and fire the Minister of National Defence and the chief of defence staff?

Somalia InquiryOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Perth—Wellington—Waterloo Ontario

Liberal

John Richardson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the minister has covered this issue a number of times.

I will not comment on any evidence presented to the commission. The commission was established to examine all aspects of the Somalia inquiry. The inquiry is the proper forum for this kind of evidence and debate, not the floor of the House of Commons. Let the commission do its job.

The EconomyOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Alex Shepherd Liberal Durham, ON

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

The OECD has expressed its concern that deficit and debt reduction could have a negative impact on real economic growth in Canada. What assurance can the minister give that the prosperity of Canadians will not be negatively impacted by these actions?

The EconomyOral Question Period

3 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the OECD said in its report that Canada would have in 1997 not only the strongest growth of all of the G-7 countries but more than likely the strongest growth of all the OECD countries.

The OECD went on to congratulate the federal government for its activities in cleaning up the balance sheet and in deficit reduction and essentially said that low inflation, high productivity, the reduction in the current account deficit and the huge increase in exports, some of which were announced today, are all leading to a very strong economy.

In effect, the OECD said that the Canadian people are really doing a job and the rest of the world is starting to take notice.

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

I would like to bring to your attention the presence in the gallery of, if I might use the term, a fledgling democracy, and one that should have our support.

We have with us a parliamentary delegation from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

I have a point of order and I am also going to render a decision today on a point of privilege, but we will go directly to the vote that has been asked for. I will hear that point of order and I will give a decision to the member for Lethbridge before this day is out.

The House resumed consideration of the motion in relation to an amendment made by the Senate to Bill C-20, an act respecting the commercialization of civil air navigation services.

Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization ActGovernment Orders

3 p.m.

The Speaker

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion to adopt the Senate amendment on Bill C-20, an act respecting the commercialization of civil air aviation.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker

I declare the motion carried.

(Amendments read the second time and concurred in.)

Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker

Colleagues, may I have your attention for one minute. I do not want to quote Yogi Berra in the House, it is not over until it is over, but if today is the last day that we are going to be sitting in this part of the session, as is the custom, I, as your Speaker, will be hosting a very small reception to just say so long for the summer.

I want to thank you very much for this part of the session. I wish you all a very pleasant and a safe summer. I look forward to welcoming all of you back on 16 septembre à l'automne.

Civil Air Navigation Services Commercialization ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Ways And MeansGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I have the honour of tabling a notice of a ways and means motion to amend the Income Tax Act and related acts. I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.