Debates of Nov. 25th, 1997

Justice

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the hon. member that my predecessor amended the Young Offenders Act and we should keep in mind that for certain serious crimes he doubled the period of time a young offender could serve in prison.

What we have done is deemed 16 and 17-year olds to be adults for the purposes of transfer to adult court. So in fact this government has acted in relation to some of the concerns surrounding the Young Offenders Act.

If the hon. member is suggesting that more needs to be done, I do not disagree. I would ask him to work co-operatively with me and with the standing committee on justice.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

There she goes again, Mr. Speaker. She is just absolutely losing it because she talks about a great piece of legislation and all the changes, and nothing has changed. It is evident from what has just happened across the country.

While she is wining and dining the elite, she does not talk to the real people to find out the solutions. Why don't you publish their names? Why don't you let the people know who they are? Why don't you put some meaning—

[The Speaker]

My colleague, always address your question to the Chair. The hon. Minister of Justice.

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I have no idea to whom the hon. member is referring in relation to the wining and dining of the elite.

Let me assure the hon. member that if he genuinely wants to participate in a discussion around important issues like the naming of young offenders in certain situations, I ask him to work with this government because those are the very issues on which we are working.

Banks

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

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

Today it was the turn of the Bank of Montreal to reveal record profits of $1.3 billion. Meanwhile bank services charges have skyrocketed by 25% or more in the last three years and inflation sits at 1.5%.

Enough is enough. Healthy profits are fine but gouging the consumer is not fine.

In light of that, will the minister now screw up his courage and call for a parliamentary inquiry into bank service charges so the banks have to come before parliament and fully disclose and justify their charges to consumers?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I could lay a few facts before the House.

I am sure the hon. member would welcome, as his leader already has, reasonable profits for the banks. This is for two reasons. First, profits mean that investors including pensioners benefit. Second, increased profits mean vast increases in revenues from taxes on these profits for Canadians. Last year the banks paid $4.9 billion in federal, provincial and municipal levies.

If the member is concerned that their profits are too high perhaps he should realize—

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre.

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

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

In 1993 the Bank of Montreal wanted to buy the Harris Bank of Chicago. Under the American Community Reinvestment Act, U.S. regulators prevented the Bank of Montreal from closing the deal and getting a charter until the bank committed nearly $500 million for small business loans and community development.

In light of the record Canadian bank profits we are seeing on a daily basis, when will the minister introduce a community reinvestment act in Canada to make sure small business can access at fair rates capital they need desperately for their business?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, the idea behind a community reinvestment act is that deposits taken out of a particular area will be equalled by investments or loans made back into that particular area.

If we look at the figures of the Bank of Canada from last year, seven provinces in Canada would be major losers under that type of proposal, including the four Atlantic provinces.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, Charlotte, NB]

Mr. Speaker, financial mismanagement at the Oromocto first nation has left a toll of casualties both on and off reserve. Even with the $500,000 cash advance the band cannot meet its obligations. Band staff is being laid off. Men, women and children have not received a paycheque or support payments in six weeks. Contractual agreements have been broken and have not been honoured.

My question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Will the minister take the necessary steps to ensure that all financial commitments and contractual agreements—

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I am aware of the financial difficulties being faced by the Oromocto first nation. A co-manager has been put in place to assist and to provide advice on the fiscal decisions that are being made there.

The department is watching the results of that intervention very closely. We are committed to ensuring the restoration of fiscal stability to that first nation.

I would ask the hon. member to continue.

[An hon. member]

Mr. Speaker, she is after your job.

[The Speaker]

I sort of like it here.

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, Charlotte, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I guess I underestimated my own power in the House. I appreciate the minister's concern.

A great deal of hardship is being placed on individuals on and off reserve. That is the point I really want to make.

These financial hardships reach right down into the Fundy region where fishermen in Grand Manan have been left out and financial commitments not kept. Simply put, I would like the minister to act in the best interest of all sides, not only the Indian community but those people who are suffering financial hardship in that area.

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I would again indicate that the department is working with the first nation through a co-manager to focus on the need to restore fiscal certainty to that community.

I would just caution the House, however, not to generalize from a particular case. While some first nations need remedial support, the vast majority of them are working within the constraints of their fiscal realities.

National Revenue

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Whitby—Ajax, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business has characterized as heavy handed and inflexible Revenue Canada's announcement that even without postal service Canadians still have to make their payments on time.

Given that the postal strike is making it difficult for many individuals and businesses to send their payments to Revenue Canada, is the department prepared to show any flexibility and understanding during the course of this strike for late or missed payments?

[Sue Barnes, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, we understand there is some difficulty right now. Revenue Canada has taken the steps necessary to assist Canadians to meet their obligations and to ensure that we deliver the child tax benefit credits for which we are responsible.

Businesses and individuals can make their payments at any financial institution. They can go to any of our customs offices or our Revenue Canada offices.

I also remind the federation that we have fairness legislation at Revenue Canada. We are fair.

National Defence

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the government refuses to take action in the postal strike, which actually affects millions of people. Yet it does not waste any time when it comes to rewarding incompetence with promotions, particularly if it involves the Somalia affair.

Kim Campbell, Consul General in Los Angeles; Bob Fowler, Ambassador to the UN; and now Vice Admiral Murray has landed a whale of a job in the fisheries department.

When will the disgraced Somalia commander, Colonel Labbé, get his reward?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows a proposed promotion is being held in abeyance. The matter is still under review. It will be examined.

Inari

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

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

A few days ago, we learned that INARI, an agency accredited to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, was involved in a fraud case against some business people from Quebec.

What representations does the government intend to make to the UN to ensure tighter control over agencies seeking accreditation and what support does the federal government intend to give to the victims of this fraud?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, for the last two years we have been working very actively with the United Nations to ensure that a whole series of financial administrative reforms would be instituted.

For example, Canada led the strong advocacy for zero growth in the UN budget. We have also been leading the support for reorganization, and the secretary general has brought in reforms.

We will continue to work actively. Where there are questions of fraud we will support any action to make sure those are clarified and cleaned up as soon as possible.

Ports Canada

[Peter Mancini, NDP, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, during the past weeks the Minister of Transport has been asked what he knew about alleged wrongdoings by senior Ports Canada police officials.

Within one month of an official complaint being made to the RCMP, the director general of Ports Canada, Sidney Peckford, was removed from his position.

Given that the officials with Ports Canada will not comment, will the minister tell the House why the director was removed and how this relates to the RCMP investigation into the alleged wrongdoings?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, by now the hon. member would have seen a press release from Ports Canada which answers his question. The fact is that the port police across the country are being wound up. The individual in question is terminating his job at the end of this year.

On the matter of the complaints that have been filed, the RCMP has evaluated them and has opened an investigation. It would be imprudent for me to say anything further.

Finance

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

Mr. Speaker, we have just learned today that the Bank of Canada has announced a quarter per cent rise in the prime lending rate, supposedly justified by our overheated economy. In this so-called overheated economy there are more than 1.4 million unemployed Canadians.

My question is for the finance minister. How could he support a government policy guaranteed to create more unemployment?