Debates of Oct. 30th, 1997

Airports

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Secretary of State (Parks)]

Mr. Speaker, obviously Parks Canada did not break the law. What the court indicated was that those airports could not be decommissioned. They are not being decommissioned. The item is before the courts. Simply speaking, they cannot be used until a decision is made. That is what we have put in place and that is what we are going to ensure takes place.

[Cliff Breitkreuz, Reform, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there is a court injunction. In my books, if you break that injunction, you are breaking the law.

Since the Minister of Canadian Heritage shut down these airports there have been at least a half-dozen emergency landings. Should the casualties start to roll in, will the heritage minister take full responsibility and cough up or will she cop out?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is people can land anywhere in an emergency.

Trade

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of trade.

In his answer to my leader earlier it appears that the minister was prepared to answer a question that we did not ask. If he has now had time to think about the question we actually asked him, perhaps he could answer it.

Can the minister tell us whether or not Canada is going to insist at the MAI table on a binding and enforceable set of core labour and environmental standards? Is that the position of the government or is it not?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, first, what I said to his leader earlier was that Canada and this government enjoy standards in both labour and environment that are the highest in the world. Second, Canadian negotiators are delighted to push both files to have an integral part in the MAI.

Finally, that is what the MAI is all about. We do not want in the developing world to have those standards so low that that is where the investment goes. The point is to regulate high standards and good regulations so it is a level playing field for both the—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Winnipeg—Transcona.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, telling us that it is to be an integral part does not tell us whether it is to be binding and whether it is to be enforceable.

The minister calls attention to the danger that developing countries might have lower standards and thereby have an unfair competitive advantage. That is precisely why there needs to be a core set of enforceable labour and environmental standards. That is why we want the government to take that view. We want to know, is the government taking that view?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I hope he also lobbies the other socialist governments and the labour government in Great Britain as well in terms of advocating that these 29 countries ensure high standards on both labour and environment.

I mention to the member as well that negotiations are obviously ongoing. They will really get going in earnest between January and April. We will be pushing as strongly as we possibly can.

Fisheries

[Charlie Power, Progressive Conservative, St. John's West, NL]

Mr. Speaker, my question relates to the absurd use of regulations by the Government of Canada that deliberately and knowingly create unemployment in Newfoundland and in all of Atlantic Canada.

The clawback on earnings in excess of—

[The Speaker]

I know the hon. member is zealous in his question. We have used the word deliberately twice today and I wonder if we could shy away from using that word. I will let the member continue.

[Charlie Power, Progressive Conservative, St. John's West, NL]

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker.

There are regulations in the Government of Canada that have created unemployment in Atlantic Canada and particularly in Newfoundland. The clawback on earnings in excess of $26,000 from fishermen at a rate of 100% puts fishermen in the situation where they simply must stop fishing. The end result of course is lay-offs in the fish processing industry.

My question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development. Will he change these absurd regulations as requested by the Government of Newfoundland and the Newfoundland fishermen's union so that those Newfoundlanders who can work will be able to do so?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, we looked into the situation of the Newfoundland fishermen as part of the overall reform to unemployment. That was a very major reform. We looked into every aspect of the reform that was brought forward. On the first anniversary of the implementation of the reform there will be a full report that will look into all aspects of it.

We are very proud of the reform we have done. We think it is more adaptable to our country's labour market.

[Charlie Power, Progressive Conservative, St. John's West, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the minister simply refuses or is unwilling or unable to deal with this problem.

When skippers stop putting their boats out fishermen stop fishing and plant workers get laid off. The domino effect creates more unemployment in an already economically depressed area of Canada.

My question is for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Will he, on behalf of the fishing industry people of Newfoundland and Labrador, do whatever is necessary to make sure that these stupid and ridiculous regulations are changed?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I have answered the hon. gentleman very well. A lot of elements are part of the reform. This is a very good job overall that we as a government had the courage to do. The 25 year old regime was not serving Canadians well at all.

I am saying that indeed all aspects of the reform are being very closely monitored by the government.

Human Resources Development

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Human Resources Development.

Disabled Canadians continue to face unique hurdles in their efforts to penetrate the workforce and contribute to Canada's growth with sustained employment.

What action is the government taking to give disabled Canadians better opportunities to contribute their talents to Canadian industry?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for a very good question.

Our government is very committed to meeting the needs of Canadians with disabilities and to helping them get back into the labour force because that is what they want.

As a matter of fact we are moving on all fronts. I would like to draw her attention in particular to an agreement that the Government of Canada and the provinces have reached on new employability assistance for persons with disabilities to replace the old VRDP.

We have added $70 million per year in measures to recognize the extra costs of disability and an opportunities fund of $30 million for disabled persons who want to work.

Fisheries

[John Duncan, Reform, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I bet I know what American congressmen call our Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. They call him “Our man in Canada”.

Washington has shown no interest in reducing its salmon catch on the west coast and our minister has shown no more backbone than a jellyfish.

My question is simple. Why is the minister continuing to ignore Canadian fishermen? Why does he jump every time the Americans say boo?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, if the hon. member were interested in British Columbia fishermen, he would recognize the object of the government is to get the best deal we can for them.

It is not to stand in the House and posture and make remarks which may appeal to people back home but in the end damage the case we have to put forward to get a deal between Canada and the United States so that the interests of our fishermen are properly respected.

Public Service

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a very simple question for the Prime Minister of Canada.

Can the Prime Minister tell us whether or not important jobs in the public service, such as that of penitentiary warden, are covered by a code of conduct?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I think we have put the issue to rest.

It has been pretty well established that the Bloc party was wandering down the road. I would warn the hon. member that when he gets lost down that road the leader has a tendency to fire the driver.

Health

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it has been a major disappointment for Canadians to have the Minister of Health cave in to the tobacco industry. He says he had no choice but he did. He has a choice to be the minister of tobacco or the Minister of Health.

We wonder today why he chose to be the minister of tobacco. Specifically, would he at least agree to hold off on his amendments exempting race cars until December 4 when the European Union votes to ban tobacco advertising?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is reacting as though this is some sort of surprise. The position of the government has been obvious for many months.

First we introduced the hardest hitting anti-tobacco legislation in the western world. We put it before the House and the House adopted it. Then we made it clear in relation to the international auto sport in Montreal that we were to provide an exemption for sponsorship. That is the position of the government.

Let us move on to implement the Tobacco Act and implement the anti-smoking strategy we have in mind to make sure young people do not start.

Ports

[Bill Casey, Progressive Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

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

Under Bill C-9 every port and harbour in Canada is relegated to one of three kinds of categories except one, the port of Hamilton. Hamilton is the only port in Canada that does not have to follow the rules.

In the transport committee the other day transport officials said that the decision was entirely political and had nothing to do with Bill C-9.

Will the minister tell the House and every port in Canada that must follow the rules what political pressure was applied and who in the world could have applied the pressure?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows Bill C-9 is now before committee.

If he is worrying about political pressure, he might want to apply some political pressure of his own and raise this matter in committee where it should be raised.

National Defence

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

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

This week in Ottawa the NATO secretary general said that the international community should not abandon Bosnia now nor in June when the NATO led stabilization forces mandate is set to expire.

Could the Minister of National Defence tell the House what the government's intention is with respect to continued Canadian contribution to that region?