House of Commons Hansard #24 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was impaired.
Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB
In fact, Mr. Speaker, the rhetoric did sound pretty tough.
I have a quote from the previous Minister of Health. It states: “Whatever the ostensible intent of the tobacco companies, their rich, promotional campaigns reach our youth”. Then they sent a sneaky letter to the race car teams just before the election. To do what? To give them an exemption.
The health minister in his heart of hearts knows this is wrong. Why did he not just simply say, no chance?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Because, Mr. Speaker, this is a government that keeps and respects its commitments. That was a commitment we made and we are going to keep it.
Hélène Alarie Bloc Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.
We can certainly understand that Canada's position on greenhouse gas emissions must have provincial support, but we are concerned at not knowing the federal government's position.
Would the Minister of the Environment assure us that the federal government's position on greenhouse gas emissions is not likely to mimic that of the United States, which falls far short, in view of the stakes?
Christine Stewart LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, responsibilities for meeting Canada's targets and timelines will be that of all the players and partners involved in this issue. The federal government will have to take its responsibilities. Its partners, business, industry, municipalities, individual citizens, in fact many of them are already taking these responsibilities.
Hélène Alarie Bloc Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, since the consequences of the greenhouse effect seem particularly serious, obvious and rapid for the St. Lawrence, is it the minister's intention to use this example to convince participating countries in Kyoto, including the United States, of the need for quick action?
Christine Stewart LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, scientists suggest that there can be very difficult implications for many sectors in our economy. Our natural resources of forestry, water, fisheries, agriculture and many sectors could be impacted by the effects of climate change.
Our government will work hard to make sure that Canadians understand these issues and that we respond accordingly to the crisis.
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the solicitor general said in the scrum that they could not stop Staff Sergeant Fiegenwald from leaving the RCMP. This is false. The RCMP Act contradicts that statement.
I ask the government why should Canadians not believe that this is simply a continuation of the Airbus cover-up?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the reason Canadians should realize it is not is because the entire exercise was handled according to the RCMP Act without any political interference at all, as it should be.
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, obviously the solicitor general does not know anything about the RCMP Act or the authority of the commissioner.
Staff Sergeant Fiegenwald was forced out. The government now says that the case is closed. Who is the government going to hold accountable for botching the government's case against Brian Mulroney?
Andy Scott LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I can only refer the member to the staff sergeant's own press release which stated that he accepted a job that he was very happy to take.
Daniel Turp Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
According to the human resources manual of the Department of Foreign Affairs, no employee of the department may grant interviews or deliver speeches on controversial matters, without prior approval.
Who in the government gave Ambassador Jacques Roy authority to tour Quebec with the Council on Canadian Unity promoting national unity?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, it is a general practice that we are able to invite our ambassadors abroad to come to Canada to explain all the initiatives, all the work and all the accomplishments of Canada to demonstrate what an extremely valuable country we have and what kind of contribution we can make to the world.
Daniel Turp Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Mr. Speaker, how does the government explain the fact that, despite the provision in this manual that neutrality in the public service is primordial and all employees have a direct interest in maintaining it, Jacques Roy is directly involved in the political fight in Canada and Quebec?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I cannot help but answer this question, because not so very long ago agents general of the Quebec government who refused to swear an oath to the cause were asked to leave their position.
The Parti Quebecois and the Bloc Quebecois can teach us nothing we do not already know.
Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, torture and the jailing of political dissidents are still occurring in the shadows of Tiananmen Square. Yesterday the President of the United States bluntly made it very clear to President Jiang Zemin that they were absolutely appalled with the human rights abuses in China.
What message and when is the Prime Minister going to bluntly say to the regime in China that Canadians are appalled by the human rights abuses which are occurring now?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member may be aware that we have negotiated a direct agreement with the Chinese government to deal specifically on human rights abuses. Under that agreement we have had two major sessions of dialogue with the Chinese wherein we have raised human rights abuses. In fact in the dialogue that took place two weeks ago, we gave him a specific list of all the political dissidents and asked that they give them a release.
Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, that is very nice but I wonder if that action involves not signing the UN declaration that condemned China for human rights abuses. This is the first time this country has not done that.
Once again I ask the Prime Minister what concrete measures is he going to give to the President of China to illustrate to the Canadian people that we as Canadians are appalled and disgusted by the human rights abuses that are occurring there now?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that the most effective way of achieving changes on human rights is to build the capacity within the government itself and within the country itself.
As a result under the agreement we signed we are helping reform the legal system to bring in a legal aid program to train judges. We have under the agreement the opportunity to go to Tibet and deal directly with the question of religious discrimination. Further, China has just signed the UN covenant on economic and social rights, which is one of our priorities which is to get the Chinese to sign into the agreement on the UN covenant on rights.
In a matter of four or five months I think we have been able to achieve some—
Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Health announced that he was going to table amendments to his anti-tobacco legislation, so that the Grand Prix could be televised in Canada.
Can the minister tell us clearly whether or not he intends to take the necessary action to support other sports and cultural events?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, today is at least the fifth time I have stated the government's position on this issue.
As I said yesterday and last week, we intend to respect the undertaking we gave a few months ago. We are impatiently awaiting the Government of Quebec's new tobacco legislation.
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health.
I have a thick file in my office from concerned medical researchers in this country who are worried that we are falling gravely behind the other G-7 countries in the funding for medical research.
What can the Minister of Health say to these people so we do not lose them to south of the border where there are dollars for medical research?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to maintaining the world class medical research we enjoy in Canada. The Medical Research Council is acknowledged throughout the world as establishing a standard of excellence envied by other countries and this government has acted in recent years to preserve that standard of excellence.
Let me mention two items. First of all we have rendered permanent and we have established stable funding for a network of centres of excellence across the country for medical research. Second, through the Foundation for Innovation we are creating the infrastructure for research in the future.
We will do more. We will ensure that we maintain—
Cliff Breitkreuz Reform Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, in July the federal court ruled that the Jasper and Banff airstrips should remain open. In spite of this court order, Parks Canada officials ticketed pilots for landing their planes on these airstrips.
Will the Secretary of State for Parks Canada explain to this House why his officials deliberately broke the law?