Debates of Oct. 3rd, 1997

Labour

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the White House has also initiated a process that has led to a workplace code of practice for monitoring the garment industry in that country. In our country some garment contractors use sweatshops and homeworkers on piece work often in violation of wage and labour standards.

Will the minister and his cabinet colleagues commit to develop a similar code of conduct to end the exploitation of sweatshop workers and to help the many fair Canadian manufacturers who suffer from this unfair competition?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to give the hon. member three pieces of information. First, we are working actively to have an international standard through the Oslo convention. Canada is sponsoring one of the founding meetings that is leading toward that international code.

Second, we have worked to develop a code of conduct for private businesses. They announced it about a month ago and our department was very much involved in pulling it together.

Third, we are attempting to develop specific projects overseas through the work of CIDA to help remove children from hazardous child labour and provide alternative working opportunities for them in company with local NGOs in those areas.

Rcmp Investigations

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister would have us believe that the Minister of Human Resources Development is to be congratulated for taking the initiative of calling the RCMP.

My suggestion is that this is simply not enough. Just to bring it to the attention of the RCMP is not enough.

What we would like to know is who knew, when did they know and what have they done in the meantime to ensure that this practice has stopped?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question was answered in part yesterday and I answered the rest of it in my earlier responses to other members of the House.

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question surrounds the contradictions that seem to exist. There is information that suggests that the Prime Minister did not know and then there are other suggestions that he did.

What we want to know is who in the government was aware of this illegal practice? The investigation was under way. Why did a person in the employment of the parties continue to work for the party?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question does not pertain to the administrative responsibilities of the government. I think it was confirmed yesterday by the Prime Minister's office that he was generally informed of the allegations but not of the investigation as such. If I am wrong, I will correct myself.

In any event, the government acted through the Minister of Human Resources Development quickly, responsibly and with integrity by immediately bringing the allegations in question to the RCMP when they reached his attention.

I wonder why my hon. friend does not recognize that and stop raising innuendoes and insinuations that could harm the success of the process.

Immunization Program

[Carolyn Parrish, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for CIDA.

Ten years ago Canada began an international immunization program and immunized hundreds of thousands of children in 25 countries against six fatal diseases. It appears that the program is ending. Could the minister please explain why we have ended that program?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years and many successes this particular program has ended as planned. However, Canada remains committed to global immunization.

As a matter of fact, CIDA has recently adopted a strategy for health which stresses Canada's commitment to improving the health of children worldwide. A key aim of this strategy is the immunization of every child and the eradication of polio and measles worldwide.

At the moment we are actively involved in efforts to eradicate polio in West Africa and we are examining a variety of possible next steps to see how we can best use our resources to help immunize the world's children.

Broadcasting

[Jim Pankiw, Reform, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the CRTC violated its own rules by awarding a wireless cable broadcasting licence to a telephone monopoly.

The CRTC stated that the earliest it would accept an application was June, but it made a special exception and accepted an application in February from long distance carrier Teleglobe's Look TV.

Why does the Liberal government condone the CRTC violating its guidelines? Does it want less choice for consumers, or more power for monopolies?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, first I must advise the hon. member that I cannot comment on the particulars of the case in relation to the decision of the cabinet about upholding or sending back a CRTC's decision.

Given that a court has already made a ruling on the particulars of the allegation he is making, I think he may unfortunately find himself in contempt of court.

Foreign Affairs

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

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

Following what appears to be the fraudulent use of Canadian passports by the Israeli secret services, we have learned that this has apparently been a common practice among the secret services of many countries for quite some time now.

What does the minister intend to do to tighten up protection of Canadian passports so that such situations do not recur?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

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

The international body that looks after all travel documents is the ICAO organization which is situated in Montreal. We will be working with ICAO and making representations to it about the need to provide a stronger international covenant or convention to ensure that all countries live up to their obligations.

Canada Post

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. post office handles 40 percent of the world's mail and its Postmaster General, Marvin Runyon, makes $205,000 Canadian per year.

Canada Post, which handles 3 percent of the world's mail, just renewed President Georges Clermont's obscene salary and benefits package to $380,000 Canadian per year, which by the way is not for public information.

My question is for the minister responsible for Canada Post. If the government is so willing to quickly settle a contract for Georges Clermont why will he and Canada Post management not apply the same attitude toward the current concerns of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, first, if we compare the salaries of the presidents of about 15 companies in Canada which do the same volume of business as Canada Post, Mr. Clermont's salary is the lowest.

Second, we are doing our best. I encourage my hon. colleague to speak to his friends in the postal union and get them back to the table. I will do my part by speaking to management to make sure that we have a labour agreement as soon as possible and deliver the mail.

Rcmp Investigation

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as much as the government would like this matter to go away we have one simple point we would like to establish today.

Which ministers were travelling with which fund raisers? Who was under investigation at that time?

[The Speaker]

At this point at least, the member has not gone to the administrative responsibility that I can see of any one minister. The question, as it is phrased, is not receivable.

Canada Pension Plan

[Hec Clouthier, Liberal, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

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

In recent years the number of applications for CPP disability benefits have increased dramatically, thereby necessitating that these payments be paid in a timely fashion.

My question is simply this. Mr. Parliamentary Secretary, can you share with the House—

[The Speaker]

I ask all hon. members to please direct your comments to the Chair. I will permit the parliamentary secretary to respond.

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that very important question.

Obviously people who are on the Canada disability pension would want to find out why it has been taking so long. Part of the problem is that applications for the CPP have doubled.

Because of that and because of the changes we are bringing forward in the House, and the definition of the people who are eligible to make this application, have caused us some problems.

In order to deal with that—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Nanaimo—Cowichan.

Health

[Reed Elley, Reform, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, over 25 percent of the population use or rely on natural health care products. These people have galvanized support for the right of Canadians to freely choose these products, and they want an answer.

Will the government change its current policy to permit the unrestricted use and access to safe alternative health products instead of making criminals of ordinary Canadians?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the challenge facing any government is to strike the right balance between regulation to protect consumers from fraud or abuse and, on the other hand, allowing Canadians freedom of choice for health related products. The government is determined to find that right balance.

Tomorrow in Toronto, I am going to be making an announcement that will make clear the intention of the government with respect to the approach toward herbal remedies and natural products in general. I commend it to the hon. member in response to his question.

Pay Equity

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the President of the Treasury Board.

With respect to pay equity in the federal public service, the President of the Treasury Board said this week in the House, and I quote “We stand ready to apply the various judgments once they are made final”.

Is the President of the Treasury Board saying that he will not send a representative to the bargaining table and that he intends to use all the legal stalling tactics at his disposal to delay a settlement?

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we have made over $1 billion in equity payments in recent years.

We have made an offer of $1,3 billion and we intend to leave this offer on the table, and when the unions are ready to negotiate, they have only to come back.

Health

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

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

There is a public health emergency in Vancouver's downtown east side. It is an epidemic of HIV infection, particularly among injection drug users, and Vancouver has now had the highest incident rate in the developed world. Death from drug overdoses is the number one killer for men and women aged 30 to 44.

Will the minister commit here and now to show the leadership that is called for in the national action plan?