House of Commons Hansard #35 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was devco.

Topics

Donkin MinePrivate Members' Business

2 p.m.

Liberal

Hec Clouthier Liberal Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

The leadership side, the side that ultimately makes decisions in consultation with all members of the House.

As the parliamentary secretary has made clear Devco's mandate is still commercial viability. We expect projects to go forward on the basis of commercial viability. In other words, if the Donkin mine is to be developed it will have to be on a commercial basis.

The word true has a certain air of quality about it in this hallowed Chamber. It is a versatile word. This is particularly true given the government's record of fiscal responsibility to all Canadians.

In his magnificent, magnanimous, munificent budget last February, the Minister of Finance indicated that the government would stay the course on its effort to eliminate that terrible and dreadful thing called the deficit.

Canadians recognize and appreciate that progress has been made in this regard. Far be it for me to pre-empt our fantastic Minister of Finance, but deficit elimination will more than likely be achieved in fiscal year 1998-99, but that does not mean the government can abandon its policies of fiscal restraint and accountability.

Hon. members will recall that the previous minister of natural resources, during an appearance before a special Senate committee this past March, indicated that she would entertain private sector proposals to study the feasibility of developing the Donkin mine. The government fully supports Devco's decision to allow the private sector to explore development of the Donkin mine on a commercial basis.

As hon. members have been informed, a private company, Donkin Resources Ltd., is currently conducting a feasibility study to examine the availability and quality of the coal deposit, the market opportunities and the technical details associated with opening the mine. The study was financially supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency through a contribution to the Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority. This contribution—

Donkin MinePrivate Members' Business

2 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

All hon. members share with the Chair the disappointment that the time provided for private members' hour has expired. However, with unanimous consent of the members present, perhaps the mover of the motion, the hon. member for Bras D'Or, could have three minutes to sum up.

Is there unanimous consent?

Donkin MinePrivate Members' Business

2 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Donkin MinePrivate Members' Business

2 p.m.

NDP

Michelle Dockrill NDP Bras D'Or, NS

Mr. Speaker, I still have not received an answer to the question of whether or not members on the government side support the motion.

One of the topics he just discussed was the feasibility study which is going to be done with federal funds. He talked about the agencies which have approved this funding, ACOA and ECBC. What I have to tell this member is that there was one group that was not asked what it cared about or what it thought about this situation, and that group was the people of Cape Breton Island. They were not asked.

Where else could this situation exist? In a country that is supposed to be so prosperous we have an island which has the highest rate of unemployment in the country. There is the possibility of a major employer and it is being sold for a loonie. I ask the member, where? Under this Liberal government that is how it happened.

As I said in my speech, the Donkin mine is the future of Devco and Devco is the future of Cape Breton Island. I will continue, day after day, to remind this government when it talks about deficit reduction how it accomplished that deficit reduction. It accomplished it on the backs of the people of Cape Breton Island.

Donkin MinePrivate Members' Business

2:05 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

The time provided for the consideration of Private Members' Business has now expired and the order is dropped from the Order Paper.

It being 2.06 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Monday at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 2.06 p.m.)