Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in the adjournment debate. A number of questions have already been raised on the issue, but I am going to try once again to make the Liberal government listen to reason and review the decision by the Minister of Natural Resources to stop providing $7.2 million in funding annually to the tokamak project of the Canadian Centre for Magnetic Fusion in Varennes.

I would first like point out that people were unanimous in condemning the minister's decision to make this cut. All those involved opposed her decision. Neither the minister nor her department consulted the public, the scientific community or even the financial partners in the project.

The absurdity of the decision is so obvious that even the federal Liberal organization in the riding of Verchères where the Centre is located was opposed and asked the minister to go back to the drawing board.

The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration along with the minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec apparently even met representatives of the local Liberal association to express their grave concerns over the withdrawal of federal funding for the Varennes tokamak project.

Not only does the Liberal government not have any respect for its partners, it clearly shows a lack of vision for the future. The tokamak project of the Canadian Centre for Magnetic Fusion in Varennes is a future-oriented high-technology project since it concerns a new clean, abundant and job-creating form of energy. By withdrawing now from the international research effort in the area of fusion, we will deprive ourselves of the technology transfers associated with it and we will miss the boat when this new form of energy is finally implemented.

It must be noted that, once again, figures show a shameless waste of public funds: not only will 20 years of research and development work in the area of nuclear fusion be sacrificed, but $70 million in infrastructures will be wasted, including $11 million in equipment that has never been used. On top of that, the dismantling of these facilities will cost $20 million.

Besides these economic factors, we must consider the losses in terms of human resources. Without a job, these researchers, scientists and specialists will offer to other countries the expertise developed here with our taxpayers' money.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg because this is becoming a general problem. In terms of the share of total research and development funding invested by the federal government, Quebec is once again the big loser in this federation. The figures speak for themselves.

The minister tried to present figures in such way that it looked like Quebec was getting 25 per cent of the total research and development funding from her department. That is not the case at all. Not taking into account the regional concept invented by the minister and adding the expenditures correctly, we get a much different result.

In actual fact, Quebec's total share of the R and D spending of the Department of Natural Resources now stands at 17 per cent, and the total share that Quebec would receive without the tokamak project would drop to only 12 per cent. This does not include the AECL budgets, because when they are added, we drop from 8 per cent to 6 cent.

This withdrawal of the federal government is completely incomprehensible. Why cut the only long term energy research program, which is located in Quebec? What is the reason for this unjustifi-

able cut, the relevance of which is being questioned by all stakeholders?

While it is maintaining funding for the neutrino project in Sudbury, Ontario, while it is increasing by $15 million the funding for the TRIUMF project in British Columbia, the Liberal government has the gall to axe one of the most important energy research projects located in Quebec. It is quite simply scandalous.

The SenateAdjournment Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

Dauphin—Swan River Manitoba

Liberal

Marlene Cowling LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in this debate about federal government funding of the national fusion program.

For a number of years the federal government has co-funded research and development of fusion, the national fusion program, in partnership with Hydro-Quebec and Ontario Hydro.

The cost of the Quebec part of the national program, the Canadian Centre for Magnetic Fusion at Varennes, has been shared by the federal government, Hydro-Quebec and the University of Quebec. The federal government's contribution to the Quebec program is currently $7.2 million annually.

Since 1981 the investment by the federal government in fusion research at Varennes has amounted to $90 million. This investment has helped to develop scientific expertise and industrial technology in Quebec and it will continue to pay dividends in the future.

In nuclear energy the mandate of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited is to seek to maintain a viable, competitive business in supplying and servicing CANDU reactors at a reduced cost to the federal government. This will mean that AECL will no longer conduct non-CANDU related basic science. AECL is working with the federal government to wind up or transfer elements of its basic science programs to other facilities if possible.

High technology industries in Quebec will continue to benefit from the nuclear industry through contracts developed from CANDU sales to Korea and through the good performance of the Gentilly 2 CANDU reactor.

Consultants' studies show that a typical CANDU 6 sale overseas could bring over $100 million in contracts to Quebec and generate about 4,000 person years of employment. AECL expects to sign contracts for the sale of CANDU reactors to China in the near future and there are prospects for the sale of additional units to Korea.

These two corporations, among the very largest in Canada, have received a year's notice of the federal government's intent to terminate funding for the national fusion program. The federal government will work with them to ensure a smooth transition. We are continuing to fund the program in the current fiscal year.

These are the principal reasons that have gone into the decision by the federal government to end funding for the national fusion program.

The SenateAdjournment Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)

As per the unanimous consent of the House a short while ago, the House will now be suspended to the call of the Chair for the purpose, and the only purpose, of the royal assent.

(The sitting of the House was suspended at 4.34 p.m.)

The House resumed at 6.49 p.m.

The SenateThe Royal Assent

4:25 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)

I have the honour to inform the House that a communication has been received as follows:

Government House Ottawa

June 20, 1996

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform you that the Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy Governor General, will proceed to the Senate chamber today, the 20th day of June, 1996, at 6.45 p.m., for the purpose of giving royal assent to certain bills.

Yours sincerely,

Judith A. LaRocque Secretary to the Governor General

Message From The SenateThe Royal Assent

June 20th, 1996 / 4:25 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)

I have the honour to inform the House that a message has been received from the Senate informing this House that the Senate has passed certain bills without amendment.

A message was delivered by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod as follows:

Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Deputy to the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of this honourable House in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker with the House went up to the Senate chamber.

And being returned:

Message From The SenateThe Royal Assent

4:25 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)

I have the honour to inform the House that when the House went up to the Senate chamber the Deputy Governor General was pleased to give, in Her Majesty's name, the royal assent to the following bills:

Bill C-7, an act to establish the Department of Public Works and Government Services and amend and repeal certain acts-Chapter 16.

Bill C-8, an act respecting the control of certain drugs, their precursors and other substances and to amend certain other acts and repeal the Narcotics Control Act in consequence thereof-Chapter 19.

Bill C-12, an act respecting employment insurance in Canada-Chapter 23.

Bill C-13, an act to provide for the establishment and operation of a program to enable certain persons to receive protection in relation to certain inquiries, investigations or prosecutions-Chapter 15.

Bill C-19, an act to implement the Agreement on Internal Trade-Chapter 17.

Bill C-20, an act respecting the commercialization of civil air navigation services-Chapter 20.

Bill C-31, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 6, 1996-Chapter 18.

Bill C-33, an act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act-Chapter 14.

Bill C-36, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, the Old Age Security Act and the Canada Shipping Act-Chapter No. 21.

Bill C-48, an act to amend the Federal Court Act, the Judges Act and the Tax Court of Canada Act-Chapter No. 22.

Bill S-8, an act respecting Queen's University at Kingston.

It being 7.05 p.m., pursuant to order made earlier today, the House stands adjourned until Monday, September 16, 1996 at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 28 and 24.

(The House adjourned at 7.05 p.m.)