House of Commons Hansard #28 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was children.
Jason Kenney Reform Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, I asked a straight question and I got another crooked answer.
Why will the Prime Minister not tell us—
The EnvironmentOral Question Period
The Speaker
We are pushing the envelope a little bit today. The question, please.
Jason Kenney Reform Calgary Southeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the cabinet apparently made a decision to rack up costs on the Kyoto deal. How is the government going to pay for it? Is there going to be an increased gas tax or not? Is the government going to reduce the surplus or not? How is it going to pay for the billions of dollars of cost implied by the Kyoto deal?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, it is exclusively the Reform Party that is talking about this doomsday scenario.
The hon. gentleman should know that there are a variety of ways by which the climate challenge can be addressed: by broadening and deepening the voluntary initiatives in the private sector which the private sector is already anxious to do; strengthening energy efficiency, encouraging co-generation; promoting science and technology and the commercialization of science and technology; fostering renewables; the whole point about jointed limitations; the whole point about credits trading throughout the world. All of those will be part of the equation. Canada will have a position that works.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health has just been capitalizing on a letter dated May 2, 1996, in which, according to him, the Government of Quebec gave its agreement.
If the minister has read the letter, can he deny that what is written is the following: “I would like to inform you that it is the Ministry of the Environment and Wildlife that is responsible for water management. It is the responsibility of that department to advise you of a definitive agreement on this legislative process”?
Does the minister know how to read? Does he still claim that he has the agreement of the Government of Quebec, as he has just stated?
Allan Rock Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
It is too late now to protect the Bloc's position. They made an enormous mistake. We obtained the prior agreement of Quebec and of all the other provinces.
Allan Rock Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
May I quote a letter from the Quebec Public Health Branch, which says that the bill “is a positive element to protect public health”.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, let's be serious. We are in this House and we are speaking to the government. The Minister of Health has no right to falsely interpret statements, as he is doing.
How can the Minister of Health claim to have the agreement of the Government of Quebec when his letter not only comes from the Department of Health but also states that it is up to the wildlife ministry—
Drinking WaterOral Question Period
The Speaker
Dear colleagues, I would ask that you refrain from showing letters. Letters may be quoted, but you are asked not to display them like that.
I would ask the hon. member from Roberval to pose his question.
Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is very simple. Is the minister aware of the letter signed by the present Deputy Minister of Health and sent to his environment colleague in Quebec, and of the denial by the Quebec Minister of the Environment of what the minister has just said in this House?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, this is really strange. I simply read what Quebec government officials wrote about this bill.
Allan Rock Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
The simple fact is that the provinces have jurisdiction over the quality of drinking water and that the federal government has the power to make laws concerning the materials used to transport water. Our bill deals with this and it is an area of federal jurisdiction.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Yesterday, former ambassador Joe Bissett issued his report into a Los Angeles visa office with regard to the issuing of a visa to a known triad gang leader. The report contained 11 recommendations.
Can the minister advise the House and all Canadians if she agrees with those recommendations? When will she enact those recommendations not only in Los Angeles but in all visa offices around the world?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, following a problem in the Los Angeles office, I personally asked the deputy minister to prepare a detailed report on the situation.
The deputy minister asked an outside consultant to review the processing procedures in our Los Angeles office. We just received Mr. Bissett's report. It includes some very interesting recommendations and we intend to follow up on them.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, my supplementary question is for the same minister. Does the minister know today where the triad gang leader is? Has her department issued a deportation order against the triad leader and his family?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the Reform member is well aware that the Privacy Act precludes me from providing details on the private lives of those involved in any departmental matter.
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Yesterday evening, CBC National News announced that the federal government intends to fund the sale of two CANDU reactors to Turkey, to the tune of $1.5 billion, without conducting environmental impact studies.
Can the Prime Minister explain why his government is prepared to circumvent its own legislation for the sole purpose of selling nuclear reactors to Turkey, while here in Ontario, nuclear reactors are being closed down because of the risks to the environment?
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, the hon. gentleman should be careful of the aspersions he may cast with respect to the Candu technology around the world. That technology has proven to be efficient and safe and is respected.
The problems he refers to in Ontario were problems related to management and processes within Ontario Hydro. They had nothing to do with the Candu technology.
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont, QC
Mr. Speaker, are we to understand that the federal government is prepared to do anything for money, including violating its own laws?
