Debates of Oct. 20th, 1997

Mefloquine

[John Cummins, Reform, Delta—South Richmond, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the facts were clear at the time the drug was administered and it was clear there was a problem.

DND participation in the safety monitoring study would have alerted Health Canada of the sometimes intolerable side effects of the drug mefloquine which were well documented at the time by Canadian military doctors.

Can the minister tell the House why his department did not insist that DND participate fully in the safety monitoring study before licensing mefloquine for general use by Canadians?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, hindsight affords the hon. member the luxury of characterizing the facts as he sees fit.

As I have already said, investigations are continuing to determine all the facts of the matter. I think the responsible thing to do is to wait until all the facts are at hand before coming to any judgment.

National Defence

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of National Defence.

The minister's refusal to accept the establishment of an independent office of inspector general means the truth about Somalia will likely never be told. The minister has caved in to the senior military brass, the same group that so recently elevated secrecy and lack of accountability to an art form.

Will the minister reverse his misguided decision and appoint a truly independent inspector general with a mandate to report to parliament on a regular basis?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, as I previously indicated we do not need a new superstructure. We do need refinements to the current system.

We are putting in place an ombudsman who will report independently and will operate as a citizen independent from the military. We have the same in terms of the grievance board. We have the same in terms of a military police complaints commission. We have a new monitoring committee to look at the recommendations and to ensure they are all implemented, again an independent civilian oversight. We have substantial civilian oversight of the Canadian military. Together they are a better system than the one that was proposed.

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Which is it, Mr. Minister, these warm fuzzy assurances today or what you said last week that—

[The Speaker]

I remind the hon. member that all questions are put through the Speaker. I ask the hon. member to please put his question.

[Dick Proctor, NDP, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, will the minister admit that no inspector general effectively means no inspection of the generals?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Absolutely not, Mr. Speaker. There is substantial oversight, unprecedented in terms of the Canadian forces. Substantial oversight by independent civilian entities is proposed and will be carried out to provide the same kind of independent oversight that the hon. member has been talking about.

The Economy

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

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

Last year the deficit was $8.9 billion. Expanded revenue growth combined with lower interest rates on a smaller marketable debt could very well balance the books this fiscal year.

Would the Minister of Finance after his recent mushy economic statement advise the Canadian public if the finance department's own internal forecast indicates a balanced budget this fiscal year?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

As has been outlined by the prime minister, we will balance the books by no later than next year. I think Canadians can take enormous satisfaction in the fact that in the first five months of this year we actually have paid down $11 billion worth of marketable debt. I also think that Canadians take great satisfaction by the fact that the net worth of households is rising, that consumer sales are up, that more and more Canadians—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Brandon—Souris.

[Rick Borotsik, Progressive Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Mr. Speaker, figures tabled by the government last April announced a $12.5 billion cash floor on the CHST. They showed that Manitoba's cash transfers were to fall from $600 million last year to $487 million within the next five years. Not only has Manitoba suffered a $250 million cash transfer loss since 1994-95 but it is facing a health care crisis. In fact the community of Delorine, Manitoba has lost all of its doctors and its citizens do not have access to health care.

Can the minister explain, despite the floor and in spite of a balanced budget, why seven out of ten provinces will continue to get less money for health care—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Finance.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, may I simply point out to the hon. member that as a result of the federal government's actions, interest rates are down by over $2 billion in which the province of Manitoba would share.

May I also point out that Manitoba is sharing not only in the original but in the extension of the infrastructure program. May I also point out that the Foundation for Innovation will give the great universities in Manitoba a chance to get more money for research and development. May I point out that the Minister of Health has a series of announcements of money going directly into Manitoba to help health care.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we need more time for these answers.

Science And Technology

[Reg Alcock, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne the government made a commitment to support innovation and to assist in the commercialization of new technologies. I ask the Secretary of State for Science and Technology what action has been taken to ensure this commitment is acted upon.

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, Secretary of State (Science]

Mr. Speaker, a lot has been done. First the Canada Foundation for Innovation has been set up to strengthen research capacity. Second, centres of excellence have been financially stabilized. Third, the government has made a commitment to hook up all schools electronically, including all libraries, to a number of communities by the year 2000.

We are this week celebrating science and technology week. Everyone can help to appreciate it.

Science and technology are for women as well as men, and in French as well as in English.

Justice

[Jack Ramsay, Reform, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this month a well-known gangster from China named Wing Fu strangled a five-month old Vancouver baby and then backed over the child repeatedly with his car. This criminal was ordered out of Canada 18 months ago but the Liberal government allowed him to stay. I ask the justice minister how many more people will Wing Fu have to murder before the Liberals get him out of this country.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the Department of Citizenship and Immigration has a policy concerning the deportation of people. The priority is definitely the deportation of criminals.

I am pleased to say that the percentage of criminals who were deported this year has gone up, in comparison to last year.

This being said, we can only deplore the tragic event that occurred in the Vancouver area.

Kidnapping Of Children

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

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

The children of Mrs. Suzie Robitaille, who were kidnapped by their father two and a half years ago, are still being held in Egypt, despite the promise made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs last spring that he would look into the matter personally.

How can the minister explain that, six months later, nothing has been done and Mrs. Robitaille's children are still being forcibly held in Egypt? What concrete action does he intend to take to repatriate these children?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken frequently with the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Unfortunately, there is no treaty between the two countries that would ensure the children's return.

However I hope, in the next few months, to be able to travel to Egypt and make a personal representation to the Egyptian government.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of four recipients of the Governor General's Award in commemoration of the Persons case.

I will call out their names and ask them to stand. I ask members to withhold their applause until I have finished.

Dr. Marguerite Ritchie, Ottawa, Ontario; Hedwidge Landry, Caraquet, New Brunswick; Sheila Genaille, Edmonton, Alberta; and Dr. Margaret Fulton, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I also draw your attention to the presence in our gallery of His Excellency Nathan M. Shamuyarira, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Privilege

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention a question of privilege directly related to a question put during oral question period to the Hon. Minister of Public Works and Government Services and answered by the leader of the government in the House.