Debates of Oct. 28th, 1997

Canadians With Disabilities

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the one year anniversary of the report of the task force on disability issues, chaired so ably by my colleague, the hon. member for Fredericton—York—Sunbury, our solicitor general.

At the one year mark this government has much to be proud of. The Minister of Human Resources Development is providing leadership through the ministerial council on social policy renewal. He is replacing the VRDP program and has introduced the opportunities fund to help Canadians with disabilities integrate into the economic life of their communities.

The Minister of Finance has expanded the medical expense tax credit and supplement that recognize the cost of disability.

The Minister of Justice has tabled amendments to ensure that Canadians with disabilities have greater and more equitable access to the justice system.

The minister of revenue has established an advisory committee of persons with disabilities to help ensure that the Income Tax Act is applied fairly.

This government has acted on priority recommendations from the task force and I am confident that the government will continue to exercise leadership on disability issues.

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, I have mentioned before that many times these microphones are so sensitive that we should not hit them even with papers because it comes out in the sound. Please be careful.

Minister Of Human Resources Development

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the Minister of Human Resources Development was in Laval lauding the virtues of federalist style partnerships.

The minister was cynical enough to tell the government of Quebec how it should behave. Yet, the minister does not really have anything to be proud of in the area of social policy, because he is the one who unscrupulously butchered the Employment Insurance Act, who did not raise any objections to the cuts in social transfers, who deprived Quebeckers of all forms of basic justice in the negotiations on parental leave, who is getting ready to invest again in job training when the ink is not even dry on the agreements signed with Quebec.

The so-called social union he wants to saddle us with whether we like it or not is only the tip of the iceberg in a government obsessed with centralization.

But as Quebec keeps saying, its areas of jurisdiction are not negotiable.

Canada Pension Plan

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's events have seen a serious downturn affecting stock markets around the world. The contraction of global investment has very clear policy ramifications for Canada, particularly with regard to the future of the Canada pension plan.

The government suggestion of investing CPP funds into the stock exchange roulette increases the risk to future retirees due to worldwide speculation and downturns. History shows and recent events suggest that there is a clear warning against gambling with Canadian savings.

While the Liberal government wants to put the nation's CPP fund at the mercy of the stock exchange roulette, the Reform Party suggests to Canadians that their fully indexed public savings should be moved completely out of CPP and invested into private speculative markets which could lose their entire value.

Canadian savings should not be handed over to the compulsive gamblers in the casino society. Canadians want safe money in safe havens.

Laurent Beaudoin

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on October 26, Laurent Beaudoin, president of Bombardier, was named Person of the Year at the 14th Gala de l'Excellence organized by La Presse .

Mr. Beaudoin's career is closely linked to the growth of Bombardier. Under his leadership, since 1966, the company's sales have soared from $10 million to $8 billion.

Under his direction, Bombardier has made it its mission to play a leadership role in all its areas of activity. The company excels in design, manufacturing and marketing.

It should also be noted that Mr. Beaudoin has always demonstrated his strong commitment to Canada and its capabilities.

On behalf of my colleagues, I wish to acknowledge the work done by Laurent Beaudoin, a role model for a whole generation.

Firefighting

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the lack of immediate information regarding hazardous material is a major reason why firefighting is one of the world's most dangerous professions.

Firefighters deserve the right to know exactly what hazardous materials may be present at any incident. Access to reliable information within the first three to four minutes of arrival will save lives by ensuring that firefighters use the most effective response techniques at any incident involving hazardous materials.

The operational respond system makes it easier for firefighters to save lives, including their own.

I and my colleagues, along with the International Association of Firefighters, which is in Ottawa this week, urge the transport minister to make additional funding available for operational respond's Canadian test sites so that a proper assessment is possible which demonstrates that operational respond is needed throughout Canada.

Infrastructure

[John O'Reilly, Liberal, Victoria—Haliburton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the 35th Parliament of Canada the riding of Victoria—Haliburton was successful in obtaining 238 infrastructure grants from the federal initiated program. That number was the highest in rural Canada. We in Victoria—Haliburton are pleased with the level of co-operation from all levels of government.

The provincial member and the federal member worked together to encourage municipal leaders to submit programs, and we were all winners.

In the present program we in Victoria—Haliburton are once again leading the way with over 53 projects in the works.

I want to guarantee the residents of Victoria—Haliburton, in particular upcoming municipal candidates, that my complete support for this program is guaranteed. Let us keep the approvals flowing.

The Environment

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, for weeks we have been trying to find out what the Liberal position is on gas emissions for the Kyoto summit.

Is their policy going to be based on science? Is it going to be based on an agreement with the provinces, consumers and taxpayers?

Yesterday the truth came out. Instead of a made in Canada solution, the Prime Minister is taking his lead from his golfing buddy, Bill Clinton. It gives new meaning to the words green tax.

Why is the Prime Minister taking his lead on Canada's environmental position from Bill Clinton?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we understand that gas emissions are a problem. Protection of the environment is extremely important not only for Canada but for the world. There is an upcoming conference in Kyoto. There is a large gap between different parts of the world. My ministers are consulting at this time with the provinces and stakeholders and we are developing a Canadian position.

One thing is clear. We will not take a position of doing nothing when the world is confronted with such a problem. While I was in Great Britain I—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the environment minister said she would release the Liberal position on Kyoto when she feels it is appropriate. I would like to remind the Liberals that the Kyoto meetings are in December 1997. All the other G-7 nations have released their targets already.

Many people believe the real cause of delay in getting a government position is a nasty squabble among cabinet ministers. If that is the case, the Prime Minister has an obligation to settle that squabble now.

When does the Prime Minister feel that he can release his emissions levels and cost targets, or does he need to talk to Bill Clinton about that too?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, at this moment we are doing the responsible thing. We are consulting with the provinces. If the Leader of the Opposition does not want us to discuss with the provinces, he should say so and we would have a definite position today. I will not have a definite position until I have consulted with the people who want to have something to do with it in Canada.

[Preston Manning, Reform, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, our other worry with respect to any issue raised with this government is that ultimately the answer will come back as some kind of tax. When we wanted to fix the deficit, their answer was increased income taxes. If we want to fix the pension plan, they increase the payroll taxes. If we want to fix the environment, we are going to get fuel taxes and green taxes.

If the Liberal Kyoto deal goes through, the CPP estimates that we could be paying almost 90¢ a litre for gas. We are already paying more for gas than the Americans and this makes it worse. How high is the Prime Minister prepared to hike—

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the only one so far in this House who has proposed a tax is the member for Nanaimo—Alberni who said that we should have—

[An hon. member]

Oh, oh.

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

Yes, he said that. He was described nicely by the office of the Leader of the Opposition as a dopey mental hiccup. I never treated any of my members of Parliament with that type of unacceptable language.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

There may be some members who would dispute that.

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister's emergency phone call last week for one-upmanship over Bill Clinton is about bragging rights and seemingly bragging rights alone. What we have here are two little boys arguing over whose green tax is bigger.

Let me ask the Prime Minister this. How far is he willing to go to win his own macho game with Bill Clinton?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I do not intend to make jokes about the environment and global warming. I was at the Commonwealth meeting and some countries feel they have a very serious problem at this moment. It is a very serious global problem.

As usual the member for Edmonton North cannot be serious about anything.

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, this is so serious it is exactly why we are pressing this Prime Minister for something to take to Kyoto, not just bring home.

Under Bill Clinton's green plan, Canadian families would have their taxes increased by thousands of dollars per year. In fact the jump at the pumps could go as high as 30¢ a litre and our Prime Minister wants to go one up on Bill Clinton with those.

Canadians need assurance on this very serious subject. How in the world can Canadians trust a Prime Minister who says to Bill Clinton “You show me your tax hike and I will show you mine”?

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we have been here for four years now and Reform members always shoot at a target which does not exist.

The only people who talk about a tax in the House of Commons are the members of the Reform Party.

We will take a responsible position for Canadians.

It is a serious problem, despite the lack of opposition policies in this field.

Prison System

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General of Canada.

In Trois-Rivières-Ouest, a hotel known as Auberge du Canada is very popular with biker gang members. It is owned by a numbered company, 2837617 Canada Ltd., whose principal shareholder is Michel Deslauriers. Now, Michel Deslauriers is also the warden of Institut Leclerc, a federal penitentiary in Laval.

Does the solicitor general find it acceptable for one of his employees to be the principal shareholder of a hotel popular with biker gang members?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I will have to confirm those allegations and get back to the member.

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, considering the recent murders of peace officers for which biker gangs are strong suspects, does the solicitor general find it normal for one of his penitentiary wardens not only to be the principal shareholder but also to come in regular and close contact with these biker gangs, his clients, since he is not only the owner but also the manager of the hotel?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I can only repeat that I will take the member's allegations under advisement and I will get back to him.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the solicitor general was one of the very few members of cabinet unaware of the fact that a Liberal Party fundraiser was under investigation. Now, he claims to be unaware of what is going on in his own department. If he belonged to a biker gang, his nickname would certainly be “Andy knows nothing”.

Is it not surprising—and this is my question—that an official of the Department of the Solicitor General and, what is more, the warden of an institution, can have such close contact with biker gangs without the department's management or minister knowing anything about it?